Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and does not substitute for guidance from a qualified healthcare provider. Pregnancy is a medical condition requiring individualised care. Before making any dietary change during pregnancy – including whether to drink ginger ale – consult your obstetrician, midwife, or another licensed clinician. If you are experiencing severe nausea, vomiting, or any other symptom, seek professional medical attention promptly.
Ginger ale is generally considered safe to consume in moderation during a healthy pregnancy, and ginger itself has a reasonable body of evidence behind it for easing nausea. That said, "generally safe" is not the same as "good for everyone," and the specific product you reach for matters more than the category label. Most commercial ginger ales contain little to no real ginger, significant amounts of added sugar, and occasionally caffeine – details worth knowing before you pour a glass.
Ginger and Morning Sickness
Morning sickness – the nausea and vomiting that affects a large proportion of pregnant people, often extending well beyond the morning hours – is one of the most common and uncomfortable features of early pregnancy. It typically peaks in the first trimester and, for most people, eases by around weeks 14 to 16, though some experience it throughout pregnancy.
Ginger (the root, Zingiber officinale) has been used across cultures for centuries as a digestive aid. In more recent decades, researchers have looked at it more rigorously in the context of pregnancy nausea. Several randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews have found that ginger supplementation – in various forms including capsules, powder, and fresh root – may reduce the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy compared with placebo. A frequently cited systematic review published in Obstetrics & Gynecology concluded that ginger was more effective than placebo for nausea relief, though the evidence on vomiting reduction was less consistent. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has acknowledged ginger as a non-pharmacological option that some patients find helpful for mild to moderate pregnancy nausea.
It is important to be precise here: the evidence is for ginger – the root and its active compounds – not for ginger ale as a category. Whether a specific ginger ale product delivers a meaningful amount of those compounds is a separate question entirely, addressed below.
What the Evidence Does and Does Not Show
The studies on ginger and pregnancy nausea are generally encouraging but not definitive. Sample sizes are often modest, dosing varies widely across trials, and long-term safety data are limited. Some professional guidelines suggest a conservative upper limit for ginger supplementation during pregnancy – but dosing guidance belongs with your clinician, not a drinks website. If you are considering ginger as a therapeutic tool for morning sickness, the conversation to have is with your obstetrician or midwife, who can weigh it against your full clinical picture and any medications you may be taking.
Ginger Ale vs. Real Ginger
This is the crux of the matter, and it is where a great deal of well-meaning advice goes wrong.
The phrase "ginger ale" covers a wide spectrum of products. At one end sit mass-market sodas – the clear or pale-gold carbonated drinks found on supermarket shelves and in hospital vending machines worldwide. At the other end sit small-batch craft ginger ales and ginger beers brewed with substantial quantities of fresh or dried ginger root. These two categories are not nutritionally equivalent, and treating them as interchangeable is a mistake.
Mass-market ginger ale (think the major national brands most people picture) is typically flavoured with a small amount of ginger extract or, in some formulations, artificial ginger flavouring. The actual ginger content is low enough that you would not expect a meaningful dose of gingerols or shogaols – the compounds researchers have studied for anti-nausea effects. What you are mainly getting is carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup or sugar, and flavouring. The carbonation itself may provide some comfort – there is anecdotal and limited clinical support for the idea that carbonated beverages can help settle a queasy stomach – but that benefit comes from the bubbles, not from ginger.
Craft ginger ales and ginger beers (non-alcoholic varieties) can be a different story. Some are brewed with significant amounts of fresh ginger and carry a genuine, peppery heat. These may deliver more of the compounds associated with ginger's reported effects. However, they also tend to be less standardised, and the ginger content varies by brand and batch. If you are drawn to this category, check the label and, again, discuss it with your provider.
The practical takeaway: if you are drinking ginger ale during pregnancy primarily for comfort – the familiar taste, the fizz, the ritual of a cold drink when you feel unwell – that is a reasonable, low-risk choice in moderation. If you are hoping it will function as a ginger supplement for nausea, be honest with yourself about what most commercial products actually contain.
Sugar and Caffeine Considerations
Added Sugar
A standard 12-ounce can of most commercial ginger ale contains somewhere in the range of 30 to 40 grams of added sugar – check the specific product's nutrition label for the current figure. Dietary guidelines generally recommend limiting added sugar intake, and this is no less true during pregnancy. Excessive sugar consumption is associated with excess gestational weight gain and other considerations your provider may discuss with you. For occasional use, one can is unlikely to be a significant concern for most people. Regular daily consumption is a different calculation.
Diet or "zero sugar" ginger ales use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose. The safety of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy is an active area of research, and recommendations vary. Some organisations advise caution; others consider moderate intake acceptable. This is another conversation to have with your clinician rather than resolving from a general article.
Caffeine
Most ginger ales are caffeine-free, which is one reason they are often recommended over colas or other sodas during pregnancy, where caffeine intake is typically advised to be limited (ACOG currently suggests keeping caffeine below 200 mg per day during pregnancy – verify the current recommendation with your provider or at ACOG's website). That said, not every ginger ale is caffeine-free. A small number of products add caffeine. Read the label of whatever you are buying rather than assuming.
How Some People Use Ginger Ale During Pregnancy
For many pregnant people, ginger ale is less a therapeutic intervention than a comfort measure – and that framing is worth honouring. Pregnancy nausea can be relentless and demoralising. Finding something that helps you get through a difficult morning, even if the mechanism is partly psychological or simply the settling effect of carbonation, has real value.
Common ways people use it:
- Sipping flat or lightly carbonated ginger ale slowly, rather than drinking it quickly
- Keeping a small amount at room temperature (cold drinks can sometimes worsen nausea for some people)
- Pairing it with plain crackers or dry toast as part of a bland, easy-to-tolerate meal
- Using it as a vehicle for staying hydrated when plain water is unappealing
None of these approaches requires a prescription, and none of them is likely to cause harm in moderate amounts for a person with a healthy pregnancy. But "unlikely to cause harm" is the floor, not a recommendation. Severe or persistent nausea and vomiting in pregnancy – a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum at its most serious – requires medical management, not ginger ale. If you cannot keep fluids down, are losing weight, or feel significantly unwell, contact your healthcare provider.
Always Ask Your Provider
It would be easy to read an article like this and conclude that ginger ale is fine and leave it there. The honest answer is more nuanced: for most people with uncomplicated pregnancies, moderate consumption of ginger ale is unlikely to be a problem. But pregnancy is not a monolithic experience. Gestational diabetes, hyperemesis gravidarum, dietary restrictions, medication interactions, and individual health histories all affect what is appropriate for a given person.
Your obstetrician or midwife knows your history. They can tell you whether ginger supplementation at any dose makes sense for your situation, whether the sugar in a daily ginger ale is something to think about given your bloodwork, and whether there are better-evidenced options for managing your nausea. No general article – however carefully written – can substitute for that conversation.
If you are looking for a starting point for that conversation, ACOG's patient resources are a reliable place to read before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you drink ginger ale while pregnant?
Yes, in moderation, ginger ale is generally considered safe during pregnancy for most people. The main considerations are sugar content, the near-absence of real ginger in most commercial brands, and the importance of not substituting it for medical care if nausea is severe. Always confirm with your healthcare provider given your individual circumstances.
Is ginger ale good for pregnancy nausea?
Ginger itself has reasonable evidence behind it for reducing mild to moderate pregnancy nausea. Most commercial ginger ales, however, contain very little actual ginger. The carbonation may provide some comfort, but if you are looking for a genuine ginger effect, craft ginger ales with measurable ginger content – or ginger in other forms, as recommended by your provider – are more likely to deliver it.
Is ginger ale safe during pregnancy in the first trimester?
The first trimester is when nausea is typically most intense and when many people reach for ginger ale. In moderation, it is generally considered safe. The first trimester is also a critical period of fetal development, which is exactly why any dietary question during this time is worth raising with your clinician.
Can pregnant women drink ginger ale every day?
Occasional or moderate use is very different from daily, habitual consumption of a high-sugar beverage. If you find yourself relying on ginger ale daily for nausea management, that is a signal to talk to your provider about more targeted options – including prescription anti-nausea medications that are considered safe in pregnancy when needed.
Does ginger ale have caffeine?
Most ginger ales are caffeine-free, which distinguishes them from colas and many other sodas. A small number of products do contain caffeine, so checking the label of the specific product you are buying is always worthwhile.
Is diet ginger ale safe during pregnancy?
Diet ginger ale contains artificial sweeteners rather than sugar. The safety profile of these sweeteners during pregnancy is still being studied, and guidance varies by organisation and sweetener type. Discuss it with your provider rather than assuming either direction.
Can kids drink ginger ale?
Ginger ale is a non-alcoholic soft drink, so there is no alcohol-related concern for children. The relevant considerations are the same as for any sugary soda: high added sugar content, low nutritional value, and the general guidance from paediatric health organisations to limit sugary drinks in children's diets. For children experiencing nausea or illness, a paediatrician's guidance is the appropriate resource.
How much ginger is safe during pregnancy?
Dosing guidance for ginger during pregnancy is outside the scope of this article and genuinely belongs with a clinician. Some professional organisations have suggested conservative upper limits for supplemental ginger during pregnancy; your provider can advise you based on your health history and current evidence.
Is ginger beer the same as ginger ale for pregnancy purposes?
Non-alcoholic ginger beer and ginger ale are both carbonated, ginger-flavoured soft drinks, but ginger beer is typically brewed (rather than just flavoured) and often contains significantly more real ginger, giving it a sharper, spicier taste. Some non-alcoholic ginger beers may therefore deliver more of ginger's active compounds. Note that some ginger beers are alcoholic – check the label carefully. Alcohol is not safe at any level during pregnancy.
What if my nausea is severe?
Ginger ale is a comfort measure, not a treatment. Hyperemesis gravidarum – severe, persistent vomiting during pregnancy – can lead to dehydration, weight loss, and nutritional deficiencies that require medical intervention. If you are struggling to keep any food or liquid down, contact your healthcare provider promptly.
Are there better alternatives to ginger ale for pregnancy nausea?
Your provider may discuss options including ginger capsules or supplements at a studied dose, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), prescription anti-nausea medications, dietary adjustments, and acupressure. The evidence base and safety profile of these options varies, and the right choice depends on the severity of your symptoms and your overall health.
Sources and further reading:
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy
- ACOG Practice Bulletin on Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy
- National Institutes of Health – Office of Dietary Supplements: Ginger
- NHS (UK) – Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy
- MotherToBaby – Ginger fact sheet (a project of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
