I came across this piece in The Big Lead, and I have to admit, it made me laugh. Not because Jason Kelce’s story was especially funny, but because his take on non-alcoholic beer might be one of the worst beer-related hot takes I’ve ever heard.
In the interview on Bussin’ With The Boys, Kelce recalled how he and his brother Travis had been chugging Budweiser Zeroes during a college football game, blissfully unaware that they weren’t actually consuming alcohol.
Taylor Swift—of all people—was apparently the one who had to break the news to them. Kelce called it “wasting three-quarters of his life.”
But then came the real kicker:
“To me, non-alcoholic beer sounds like the dumbest creation in the history of mankind. No one drinks alcohol for the taste. We drink it to throw our shirts off during a football game while cranking Lynyrd Skynyrd.”
Really, Jason? That’s the hill you want to die on?
Yes, People Actually Do Drink Beer for the Taste
Contrary to Kelce’s sweeping proclamation, plenty of people do drink beer for the taste. Beer lovers spend years chasing after the perfect IPA, stout, or lager, not because they want to rip their shirts off in January during a Chiefs–Bills playoff game, but because they actually enjoy the flavors.
Brewers dedicate their lives to perfecting recipes. Craft beer culture isn’t about seeing who can embarrass themselves the fastest in a drunken haze—it’s about appreciating the complexity of hops, malts, and yeast.
The Chiefs–Bills Incident Speaks for Itself
And let’s be honest here: alcohol doesn’t always bring out the best in Jason Kelce. That whole shirtless, screaming spectacle at the Chiefs vs. Bills game in 2024 wasn’t exactly a great argument for the “drink until you’re the center of attention” lifestyle.
It was more like a cautionary tale—one that left plenty of people cringing, and probably left his family quietly wondering if someone should step in with a glass of water.
Non-Alcoholic Beer is for the Smart Ones
Here’s the thing: non-alcoholic beer isn’t dumb. It’s smart. It’s for people who want to enjoy the taste of beer without the hangover, without the questionable decisions, without becoming the viral meme of the week. For those who occasionally prefer to be calm, collected, and maybe even a little dignified, grabbing an NA brew is the way to go.
Jason might think it’s all about cranking Skynyrd with his shirt off, but here’s the reality: that kind of behavior catches up with you. It always does. Meanwhile, those sipping an NA every once in a while, instead of knocking back “one too many too many times,” will be the ones having the last laugh.
So cheers, Jason—but I’ll take my beer with flavor, not embarrassment.
