What to drink with gout - water, coffee, alcohol and uric acid
Last updated: October 12, 2026
With gout it is easy to focus on what to eat and forget about what to drink. Yet drinks have a real effect on uric acid: some help the kidneys remove it, others raise it or supply purines. Below is an overview of the most common choices, from the safest to the ones best avoided.
Water - the foundation
Water should be your main drink throughout the day. The better hydrated you are, the more easily your kidneys remove uric acid. Drink regularly in small portions instead of a lot at once in the evening. Water with lemon or mint also works well if plain water gets boring. If you have kidney or heart disease, agree on the amount of fluids with your doctor.
Coffee - usually nothing to worry about
Observational studies suggest that people who drink coffee regularly tend to have lower uric acid and are less likely to develop gout. That is no reason to start drinking coffee, but if you enjoy it, you do not have to give it up. Just watch the add-ons: coffee with a lot of sugar or sweet syrups is a different story. Coffee also does not replace water, so treat it as an extra, not the basis of your hydration.
Tea and herbal infusions
Tea, especially unsweetened, is a good addition to your fluids. The same goes for herbal and fruit infusions without sugar. Be cautious with blends advertised as "cleansing" or "for uric acid": their effectiveness is usually poorly documented, and some herbs can interact with medication.
Milk and dairy drinks
Low-fat dairy, including milk, kefir or drinkable yogurt, is considered beneficial with gout and does not supply significant amounts of purines. It is a good choice for breakfast or a snack.
Sweetened drinks and juices - better limited
Drinks sweetened with glucose-fructose syrup, sweet fizzy drinks and large amounts of fruit juice can raise uric acid because of their high fructose content. This also applies to "natural" juices in large amounts. A small glass now and then will not hurt, but they should not replace water. Energy drinks are also usually full of sugar, so it is better to skip them.
Alcohol - especially beer
Alcohol makes it harder for the kidneys to remove uric acid, and beer also supplies purines. It is one of the most common triggers of a gout attack. With elevated uric acid it is safest to give up beer and strongly limit other alcohol. Drinking larger amounts at once and drinking alcohol without water are especially risky. Non-alcoholic beer (0%) can still contain purines, so it is not a full substitute.
What about cherry juice?
Cherry juice is sometimes presented as a remedy for gout. Some studies point to a possible benefit, but the evidence is not conclusive and it does not replace treatment. If you like it, you can drink it in moderate amounts, keeping its sugar content in mind. Just do not treat it as a way to lower uric acid.
Quick cheat sheet
- Drink freely: water, unsweetened tea, herbal infusions without sugar, low-fat milk and kefir.
- In moderation: coffee without a lot of sugar, fruit juices in small amounts.
- Avoid or strongly limit: beer and other alcohol, sweetened fizzy drinks, energy drinks.
For more on what goes on your plate, see the article Gout diet - what to eat and what to avoid, and for general ways to get a lower result, see How to lower uric acid quickly - proven ways.
Summary
With gout a simple rule works best: plenty of water, little sugar, as little alcohol as possible. The rest are extras that you can adjust to your own taste, remembering moderation.
With PuriCalc it is easy to keep track of how much fluid you drink during the day, while also tracking purines from meals and recording test results. Download PuriCalc →
This article is for general information only and does not replace medical or dietary advice. If in doubt, consult your diet with a doctor or dietitian.