If you have acid reflux, plain still water is usually a simple choice, while non-caffeinated drinks may suit some people better than coffee, fizzy drinks or alcohol. However, there is no single drink that works for everyone. Reflux triggers vary from person to person, so the most useful approach is to notice which drinks make your symptoms worse and limit those where possible.
If you are an adult managing reflux or heartburn, this guide covers drinks that may be easier to tolerate, drinks that are worth limiting, what to know about alcohol and coffee, what you can choose while travelling, and everyday habits that may help. It is general guidance for managing symptoms and does not replace advice from your GP or pharmacist.
Best Drinks for Acid Reflux
There is no drink that is guaranteed to prevent reflux, but some options may be easier to tolerate than others:
- Water. Still water is a simple choice for staying hydrated. Some people find it more comfortable than acidic or fizzy drinks when they have reflux symptoms.
- Non-caffeinated herbal teas. Some people enjoy herbal teas such as chamomile or ginger. However, herbal teas can affect people differently, so choose options that you know do not trigger your symptoms. Peppermint and mint can make reflux worse for some people.
- Plant-based milks. Some people find drinks such as almond or oat milk easier to tolerate than dairy milk, but there is no general rule that one type is better for everyone.
The main thing is to choose drinks that you personally tolerate well. If a drink regularly causes heartburn or reflux, reducing it may be more useful than following a general list of so called good and bad drinks.
Drinks to Limit or Avoid
Several drinks can trigger or worsen reflux symptoms in some people:
- Coffee, including decaffeinated coffee, can be a trigger for some people.
- Fizzy and carbonated drinks may make symptoms worse for some people.
- Citrus juices such as orange, grapefruit and lemon juice are acidic and can trigger symptoms in some people.
- Tomato juice can also worsen symptoms for some people.
- Energy drinks often contain caffeine and may be worth limiting if caffeine triggers your reflux.
- Alcohol can make reflux symptoms worse, so NHS guidance recommends cutting down on alcohol if you have problems with reflux or indigestion.
- Peppermint tea and other mint drinks may worsen reflux symptoms in some people.
You do not necessarily need to avoid every drink on this list. If you notice that a particular drink regularly causes symptoms, reducing it or choosing an alternative may help.
A Note on Milk
Milk is sometimes suggested as a home remedy for heartburn, but it is not a reliable treatment for reflux.
Some people find milk comfortable to drink, while others notice that dairy or higher fat drinks make their symptoms worse. There is also no strong reason to assume that almond milk, oat milk or another plant based drink will work better for everyone.
If you enjoy milk and it does not trigger your symptoms, there is usually no need to avoid it just because you have reflux. If it seems to make your symptoms worse, try a different option and see whether you notice a difference.
Alcohol and Acid Reflux: The Honest Answer
There is no alcoholic drink that can be considered consistently reflux friendly.
Alcohol can make reflux symptoms worse. NHS guidance advises reducing alcohol because it can increase stomach acid and irritate the stomach lining, which may make symptoms more uncomfortable.
Different alcoholic drinks may affect people differently. For example, beer and other fizzy alcoholic drinks contain carbonation, while wine and some cocktails can also contain acidic ingredients. However, there is not enough evidence to say that one type of alcohol is reliably better for everyone with reflux.
If alcohol regularly brings on heartburn, reducing how much you drink or avoiding it may help more than trying to find a particular type of alcoholic drink.
If your reflux is frequent or keeps coming back, speak to your GP or pharmacist rather than relying on drink changes alone.
If You Do Drink: What May Help
If you choose to drink alcohol, there are a few things that may make symptoms less likely for you, although they do not prevent alcohol from triggering reflux:
- Keep the amount small and pay attention to how your body responds.
- Avoid fizzy alcoholic drinks or mixers if carbonation seems to trigger your symptoms.
- Be cautious with acidic mixers such as citrus juices if these cause heartburn.
- Drinking water alongside alcohol can help you stay hydrated.
- Avoid drinking close to bedtime if alcohol tends to cause nighttime reflux.
- If you already take medicine for reflux, continue to use it as prescribed. Do not take extra doses simply because you plan to drink.
There is no particular alcoholic drink that can be guaranteed to be gentle on reflux. Your own symptoms are a better guide than a general list of supposedly safer drinks.
What Actually Helps Before You Drink
If you are wondering what to take or do before drinking alcohol for acid reflux, it is better to focus on managing your reflux rather than using medicine to make it possible to drink more.
A few practical steps may help:
- Eat regular meals and avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol on an empty stomach.
- Keep the amount of alcohol modest and drink water alongside it.
- If you notice that late drinking causes nighttime symptoms, avoid alcohol close to bedtime.
- If you already take a prescribed reflux medicine, keep taking it according to your treatment instructions rather than taking an extra dose before drinking.
- An alginate product such as Gaviscon can provide relief from heartburn and indigestion symptoms. Follow the instructions on the product. Gaviscon is usually taken after meals and at bedtime.
If you regularly need Gaviscon or another treatment to manage symptoms, speak to a pharmacist or GP rather than using it to offset frequent alcohol consumption.
Managing Drinks While Travelling
Travel can make it harder to stick to your usual routine, particularly when meals and sleep times change.
Taking a bottle of still water with you can make it easier to stay hydrated. If you normally drink herbal tea, you can also carry tea bags and ask for hot water when suitable. If coffee, fizzy drinks or alcohol usually trigger your symptoms, you may want to limit them while travelling. These are recognised reflux triggers for some people.
Try not to eat or drink large amounts close to bedtime if this tends to cause nighttime reflux. NHS guidance recommends avoiding food for around 3 to 4 hours before bed when it triggers symptoms.
If you take regular reflux medicine, keep it with you and follow your usual dosing instructions.
Habits That Help Whatever You Drink
A few everyday habits may help reduce reflux symptoms, whatever you choose to drink:
- Notice which foods and drinks trigger your symptoms and reduce them where possible.
- Avoid eating or drinking within 3 to 4 hours of going to bed if this makes your symptoms worse.
- Eat smaller meals rather than very large meals.
- Avoid lying down straight after eating.
- Reduce alcohol if it triggers your symptoms.
- Cut down on coffee, tea, cola and other caffeinated drinks if they make your reflux worse.
- If you are overweight, losing weight may help reduce reflux symptoms.
- If you have nighttime symptoms, raising the head of your bed may help. NHS guidance suggests raising it by around 10 to 20cm.
You do not need to follow every reflux diet rule you see online. Keeping track of your own triggers can be more practical because people do not all react to the same foods and drinks.
When to See a Doctor
Occasional heartburn and acid reflux are common and can often be managed with lifestyle changes or pharmacy treatments. However, speak to your GP if your symptoms are frequent, keep coming back or do not improve with reasonable changes to your diet and lifestyle.
You should also seek medical advice if you have difficulty or pain when swallowing, unexplained weight loss, persistent vomiting, or signs of bleeding such as black stools or vomiting blood.
If you regularly need medicines such as Gaviscon to control your symptoms, it is also worth speaking to a pharmacist or GP. If you buy Gaviscon without a prescription and still have symptoms after 7 days, NHS guidance recommends speaking to a doctor.
