Alcoholic drinks can be a significant contributor to your daily calorie intake. A 2012 study found that the average American adult consumes 100 calories a day from alcoholic beverages. While pure alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, the total number of calories in a drink is influenced by factors such as volume, alcohol content, carbohydrates, sugars, and mixers. Beer, wine, and whiskey differ in their calorie content, with beer typically having the highest and whiskey the lowest. A 12-ounce glass of beer contains about 140-200 calories, a 5-ounce glass of red wine has approximately 120-125 calories, and a 1.5-ounce shot of whiskey has around 100-120 calories.

Beer vs Wine vs Whiskey

Beer calories depend on alcohol content and, to a lesser extent, carbs

IPAs and other heavy hitters (7% to 11% alcohol) pack 200 to 300 calories. A lower-alcohol “session” IPA cuts that to 140 or so. Newer "lo-cal" IPAs like Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty have about 100 calories. Draft pours can be even higher in calories, with an average beer hitting 200 or 250 calories when served in a 16 or 20-ounce glass.

The calorie content of beer can vary widely depending on the type of beer you drink. Lighter colour beers tend to contain fewer calories than their darker counterparts. This is because lighter beers have a lower alcohol content and lower ingredient density. For example, most light beers tend to have between 60 and 120 calories, while dark beers have between 100 and 300 calories due to their higher carbohydrate content.

The NHS estimates that drinking five pints of lager a week adds up to 44,200 calories over a year, the equivalent of eating 221 doughnuts! However, beer has more nutritional value than wine, often containing protein, fibre, B vitamins, folate, and niacin.

Low-calorie beers have an additional enzyme added during the brewing or fermentation process, which breaks down all the starch molecules into simple sugars so that no carbohydrates remain. These beers also have a relatively low alcohol content to keep the total calorie count quite low.

Wines have varying calories based on type and colour

Red or white wines have roughly 150 calories for 6 ounces, the amount in a restaurant pour. A 9-ounce glass reaches 220 calories. Even many higher-sugar whites, like Moscato or Riesling, are in the same ballpark. A glass of sangria typically has 200-300 calories, thanks to the fruit, juice, and sugar content.

Lighter wines like Barefoot Bright & Breezy or Cupcake Light Hearted cut their alcohol content (to around 6% to 8%) to reduce calories (70 to 80 per 5-ounce glass). Choose white or rose wine over red wine if you're looking for fewer calories per glass. On average, a 4-ounce glass of red table wine contains 100 calories. By contrast, a glass of white wine typically contains around 90 calories or less. The drier the wine, the better; avoid sweetened wines, which have significantly more calories in every serving.

Spirits like whiskey have 100-120 calories per shot

However, it is important to remember that other variables influence the calorie count of your drink. The total volume of the beverage, the amount of carbohydrates and sugars, and any mixers you add will all play a role. For example, if you mix your whiskey with a high-sugar carbonated beverage, you will be adding extra calories.

If you are mindful of calories, spirits are a better option than beer or wine. Beer is made from grain, which stores carbohydrates in the form of starch. Some of these starch molecules are not broken down during the brewing process and remain as carbohydrates, contributing to the overall calorie count. Beer also tends to be served in larger volumes than spirits, which further increases the calorie count.

Wine has a lower calorie count than beer, but this is mostly due to its lower alcohol content. Wine also tends to have a lower sugar content than beer, as any carbohydrates in wine consist of only small amounts of sugar left over from the original grape sugar. However, wine is often served in smaller volumes than beer, which partly offsets this difference.

Cocktails with mixers can have close to 500 calories

Cocktails mixed with soda, juice, cream, or ice cream can have especially high calorie counts. A single chocolate martini, for example, has more calories than a McDonald's grilled chicken sandwich. A single giant glass of TGI Friday's frozen mudslide contains 1,100 calories.

A standard 1.5-ounce serving of 80-proof alcohol has 96 calories even before you add any mixers. A 6-ounce serving of orange juice has 84 calories, but add a shot of alcohol to make it a screwdriver, and the calories more than double.

The number of calories in mixed drinks depends on several factors, including the amount and proof of the alcohol, the mixers, and the size of the drink. A cocktail made with 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which has around 96 calories, can easily become a drink with hundreds of calories once the mixers are added.

For example, a Long Island Iced Tea, which contains 3/4 ounce each of vodka, white rum, tequila, and gin, as well as orange extract, sugar-free simple syrup, lemon juice, and diet coke, has 378 calories in a 6-ounce serving. A Pina Colada, which typically includes rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, has 378 calories in a 6-ounce serving.

Some other examples of cocktails with high calorie counts include:

• Mai Tai: 350 calories (1.5 oz rum, 0.5 oz cream de along, 0.5 oz triple sec, sour mix, and pineapple juice in a 6 oz serving)
• White Russian: 425 calories (2 oz vodka, 1.5 oz coffee liqueur, and 1.5 oz cream)
• Chocolate Martini: 438 calories (2 oz each of vodka and chocolate liqueur, 0.5 oz creme de cacao, and chocolate syrup)

To avoid high-calorie cocktails, it's best to stick to simple drinks with low-calorie mixers, such as diet soda, club soda, or tonic water. Spirits such as tequila, gin, vodka, and rum have the lowest calories, with around 95 calories per 1.5-ounce serving.

Alcohol is a source of empty calories

Alcoholic drinks are a "hidden" source of ""empty" calories, meaning they contribute little to no nutritional value despite being high in calories. A 2012 study found that the average American adult consumes 100 calories a day from alcoholic beverages, with close to 20% of men and 6% of women consuming more than 300 calories from alcohol daily. This can quickly add up, as consuming just 100 extra calories per day can lead to a weight gain of 10 pounds over a year.

The number of calories in beer, wine, and whiskey varies depending on several factors, including alcohol content, volume, carbohydrates, sugars, and mixers. Pure alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, which is less than a gram of fat (9 calories) but more than protein and carbs (4 calories per gram).

Beer is made from grain, which contributes to its calorie count. The calories in beer depend mostly on alcohol content and, to a lesser extent, on carbs. A typical 12 oz. beer has about 140-150 calories, similar to a can of Coke. However, some beers can have twice as many calories. Light beers typically have around 100 calories, while heavy hitters like IPAs and Belgian-style Trippels can pack 200 to 300 calories.

Wine also varies in calorie content depending on the type. On average, a 4-ounce glass of red table wine contains 100 calories, while a glass of white wine typically has around 90 calories or less. The type and colour of wine can have a significant effect on calorie content. For example, rosé wine has around 70-80 calories per 100ml, white wine has 73-83 calories per 100ml, and red wine contains 75-85 calories per 100ml. In general, wines with higher alcohol content will have more calories. Additionally, wines with added sugar, such as dessert wines, will have a higher calorie count.

When it comes to liquor, a 1.5-ounce shot of whiskey, gin, rum, vodka, or tequila has about 100 calories. These spirits generally do not contain any carbohydrates or sugars, and the volume of a standard shot is small, making them a relatively lower-calorie option. However, be cautious when adding mixers, as ingredients like tonic water, juice, soda, syrups, cream, and coconut can add significant sugar and fat calories to your drink.

Frequently asked questions