Alcohol, especially beer, is high in purines, a substance that can be converted into uric acid in the body. This increases the risk of gouty arthritis.
Studies also show that drinking beer or alcohol can reduce the ability to excrete uric acid through the kidneys, thereby causing uric acid to accumulate in the body and cause pain.
Additionally, alcohol or beer increases the breakdown of nucleotides, another source of purines that can be converted into additional uric acid.
Once a person has gout, any amount of alcohol increases the risk of a flare-up. Dietary recommendations for people with gout include abstaining from alcohol at least three days per week.
A 2014 study found that participants with gout who drank one to two alcoholic beverages within 24 hours had a 1.36 times higher risk of a gout flare than those who did not drink alcohol within 24 hours.
Therefore, to maintain health and avoid gout attacks, people with gout should limit or completely avoid drinking alcohol and beer during Tet.