Vodka Tonic Vs Beer: Which Drink Is More Diet-Friendly?

Alcoholic drinks can be high in calories and added sugars, which can contribute to weight gain and other health concerns. Cocktails, for example, often have high levels of calories due to their sugary content. Beer, too, can be high in calories, with an average of 149 calories per pint. Vodka tonics have a relatively high-calorie count of 233 calories per drink. However, there are ways to make lower-calorie choices. For example, a vodka, soda, and lime has a low-calorie count of just 106 calories. Similarly, a gin and slimline tonic contains just 115 calories, compared to a regular gin and tonic, which has 170 calories.

Tonic water is high in calories

The high-calorie count of tonic water is surprising to many, as it is often thought of as just water. However, tonic water is made up of three main components: carbonated water, a sweetener, and quinine. The quinine is a natural substance derived from the bark of the Peruvian cinchona tree in the Andes mountains, and gives tonic water its distinctive bitter taste.

The calories in tonic water come from sugars, with 33 grams of carbohydrates and 32 grams of sugar per serving. Tonic water also contains trace amounts of sodium, zinc, and copper.

When tonic water is mixed with an alcoholic ingredient, such as gin or vodka, the calorie count can increase to 200 calories or more per serving. For example, a gin and tonic can contain about 170 to 193 calories, while a vodka tonic can contain about 175 to 233 calories.

If you are looking for a lower-calorie alternative to tonic water, there are several options. Seltzer water is plain carbonated water with no calories or added sweeteners. You can add lemon or other fruit for flavor. Another option is mineral water, which has natural carbonation and a similar taste to seltzer. Flavored water provides some nutrients and antioxidants from added vegetables and fruits.

Vodka soda is a low-calorie alternative

Vodka Soda: A Low-Calorie Alternative

If you're looking for a refreshing drink that won't pile on the calories, vodka soda is a great choice. A standard vodka tonic can contain around 175 calories, largely due to the sugar content in tonic water. However, swapping tonic for soda water or seltzer can bring that number down to just 106 calories, making it one of the lowest-calorie alcoholic drinks available.

The Benefits of Vodka Soda

The beauty of a vodka soda is its simplicity. All you need is vodka and unflavored soda water, which means no added sugars or sweeteners. This makes it a much healthier option than cocktails, which often contain high levels of sugar and can pack in hundreds of calories.

Customize Your Drink

Just because it's a low-calorie drink doesn't mean it has to be boring. Vodka soda can be easily customized with a variety of healthy additives. A spritz of lemon or lime juice, a pinch of mint, or even flavored sparkling water can add a pop of flavor without piling on the calories.

Compare to Beer

Beer is another popular alcoholic beverage, but it tends to be higher in calories than vodka soda. A pint of lager can contain around 200 calories, and heavier beers can have even more. So, if you're looking to cut down on calories, swapping out a beer for a vodka soda is a smart choice.

Other Low-Calorie Options

If you're not a fan of vodka, there are other low-calorie alcoholic drinks to consider. Straight spirits like gin, tequila, rum, and whiskey contain around 100 calories per shot. Mixing them with low-calorie mixers like diet tonic or soda water can also keep the calorie count down. Other drinks to consider include martinis (around 70-207 calories), Moscow mules (120-153 calories), and hard seltzers (around 95-100 calories).

Beer has more calories than wine

Vodka tonics are a better option than beer if you are looking for a lower-calorie drink. According to Spruce Eats, a vodka tonic has 233 calories per drink, while an average lager has around 200 calories. However, beer has more calories than wine.

On average, a pint of 5% ABV beer contains around 240 calories, according to the NHS. 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, as they are more carbohydrate-heavy.

The NHS estimates that drinking 5 pints of lager each week adds up to 44,200 calories over a year, the equivalent of eating 221 doughnuts!

On the other hand, a standard 175ml glass of 12% ABV wine contains around 133 calories, which is equivalent to eating three Jaffa Cakes. The type and colour of wine you choose can also have a large effect on the calorie content. Rosé wine has on average around 70-80 calories per 100ml, white wine has 73-83 calories per 100ml, while red wine tends to contain between 75-85 calories per 100ml.

Red wine tends to have a higher alcohol content, and wines with higher alcohol content will usually contain more calories than wines with lower alcohol content.

So, if you are looking to cut down on calories, switching from beer to wine could be a good option. Vodka tonics are also a lower-calorie alternative to beer, but remember to enjoy all alcoholic drinks in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Spirits have the least amount of calories

If you're watching your weight, it's important to know that alcohol can contribute to obesity. Many alcoholic drinks are high in added sugars, from pre-made mixers to juices, and these extra calories have no nutritional benefit. Cocktails mixed with soda, juice, cream, or ice cream can be especially high in calories.

Spirits are a good choice if you want to cut down on calories. Vodka, for example, has about 96 calories per shot. Gin is another good option, with a similar number of calories.

If you're drinking spirits with a mixer, be aware that tonic water is generally made with high-fructose corn syrup, the same sweetener used in cola and other soft drinks. A 12-ounce can of tonic water contains about 124 calories and 32 grams of sugar. So, if you're looking for a low-calorie mixer, opt for soda water or selzter water instead. You'll still get that bubbly feel and spirit taste without the added calories. You can also add a splash of lime or lemon for extra flavor.

A vodka soda or vodka tonic is a good choice if you're looking for a low-calorie drink. A vodka soda has just 96 calories, while a vodka tonic has 175 calories.

If you're a gin drinker, a gin and tonic will cost you about 193 calories, but you can reduce that to 146 calories by swapping the tonic for soda water and adding lime – a drink known as a gin rickey.

Another option is to mix your spirit with a diet soft drink. For example, a rum and Diet Coke has just 96 calories, and a Johnny Walker Black and Diet Coke will be a similar number of calories. However, be aware that diet soft drinks contain artificial sweeteners, which have been linked to some health concerns.

So, if you're looking for alcoholic drinks with the fewest calories, spirits are a good choice – especially when mixed with low-calorie mixers like soda water, seltzer water, or diet soft drinks.

Beer calories vary by type

Guinness is a slightly lower-calorie option, with 126 calories, and non-alcoholic beers are also available, such as BrewDog's Nanny State (0.5%) or Heineken 0.0. These non-alcoholic options are a good choice if you're looking for the taste of beer without the calories or alcohol content.

If you're looking for lower-calorie alternatives to beer, hard seltzers are a good option. These typically combine seltzer water and alcohol and come in various fruit flavours. While the calorie count varies by brand, a 12-ounce serving of White Claw mango spiked seltzer, for example, provides 100 calories.

When it comes to liquor, vodka is a good low-calorie option, with around 100 calories per shot (1.5 fluid ounces). Tequila, gin, and whiskey also have a similar calorie count per shot. However, be mindful of what you mix your liquor with, as tonic water, juice, and other mixers can add extra calories. For a lower-calorie mixer, opt for soda water, diet tonic water, or a zero-calorie beverage.

Frequently asked questions