Why does drinking beer make it more difficult pee?

Hi there, 

There are actually a few reasons why alcohol may make it harder to urinate. Alcohol can affect how the muscles work - they may tighten, for example, making urination harder. 

Alcohol is also inflammatory in its effects, which means that it worsens the inflammation that is already present in the prostate cells, making them even more likely to block the flow of urine.

Moreover, when drinking beer, it tends to displace any water you may otherwise have been drinking, which reduces the ‘prompt’ for the kidneys to release fluid. 

Alcohol drains our magnesium stores too, which impacts negatively on kidney and muscle function, as well as on the way nerve messages are delivered – all of which is not great for peeing. 

If you are suffering from prostate problems I’d recommend avoiding alcohol. Stick to plenty of water and maybe even a cup of green tea or two!