Last reviewed: 2026-09-03 • Editorial Standards

Alcoholic Beverages Purine Levels Ranked: Best & Worst for Gout

Evidence-based comparison — data from USDA+ODS-NIH PURINE DATABASE Release 2 (March 2025)

Lowest Purine Alcoholic Beverages

#1shochu (japanese spirit liquor)0.0 mg
#2cheese, feta, whole milk, crumbled0.0 mg
#3ume liqueur0.2 mg
#4whiskey0.2 mg
#5brandy0.4 mg
#6mirin (cooking wine)1.2 mg
#7wine1.2 mg
#8Mirin1.2 mg
#9sake1.4 mg
#10ginger root, raw2.3 mg

Highest Purine Alcoholic Beverages

#33Beer yeast2995.7 mg
#32Beer yeast product1206.2 mg
#31Kuruma shrimp195.3 mg
#30Chondroitin and Beer yeast186.1 mg
#29whiting (sillaginidae), raw144.1 mg
#28chicken drumstick, raw132.7 mg
#27Rump113.0 mg
#26pork rump, raw113.0 mg
#25chicken skin (from drumsticks and thighs), braised93.8 mg
#24sake lees89.1 mg

Category Average: 162.8 mg/100g

The average across 33 Alcoholic Beverages foods with lab-measured data. Foods below this average are better-than-typical choices within this category.

How to Use This Ranking

The purine ranking is sorted from lowest to highest. Rank #1 is the lowest-purine food in the category. Foods in the top half (above median) should be consumed with more awareness of portion and frequency. The difference between adjacent ranks varies: in some categories, rank #5 and #10 might be only 10 mg apart; in others, the gap can be 100+ mg. Always check the actual milligram value, not just the position. Rankings do not account for fructose or alcohol — use individual food pages for a complete risk assessment.

ACR 2020 Guideline Context

The American College of Rheumatology recommends that gout patients focus on purine awareness rather than complete food group elimination. Within any category, there is a wide purine range. The goal is to shift toward lower-purine choices within categories you already eat, rather than eliminating entire food groups. This ranking helps you identify which specific items to prioritize and which to limit.

Japanese guidelines recommend under 400 mg of total dietary purines per day. Using this ranking, you can estimate how much of budget each food uses per typical serving.

How This Comparison Is Built

Every food in this comparison passes through a three-factor risk model that looks at purines, fructose, and alcohol independently. Purine values are sourced from the USDA+ODS-NIH PURINE DATABASE Release 2 (March 2025) and Kaneko et al. (Biol Pharm Bull 37(5):709-721, 2014, PMID: 24553148), fructose from USDA SR28. Verdicts apply ACR 2020 limits — Safe means under 50 mg purine and 2 g fructose with no alcohol; Moderate falls between; Avoid exceeds these or contains alcohol. Data quality tiers (T1/T2/T3) are listed on each food's detail page.

This comparison is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual tolerance to purines and fructose varies. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance. Last reviewed: 2026-09-03.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which alcoholic beverages foods are lowest in purines?
The lowest purine alcoholic beverages foods include shochu (japanese spirit liquor), cheese, feta, whole milk, crumbled, ume liqueur. These all fall under 50 mg/100g and are rated SAFE for gout. See the full ranking below for all 33 items.
What is the average purine level in alcoholic beverages?
The average across 33 alcoholic beverages foods with lab-measured data is 163 mg/100g. Foods below this average are better-than-typical choices within this category.