How many calories are in alcoholic drinks?
Learn how many calories are in your favourite alcoholic drink, whether that’s a glass of wine, a pint or cocktail
Ever wondered how many calories are in your drink of choice? Although we often think about calories in our food, liquid calories can be easily forgotten – although they can stack up. Liquid calories also tend to be ‘empty calories’, meaning they provide no other nutritional value or benefit.
In fact, most alcoholic drinks are high in calories and sugar, so regular drinking is likely to increase your intake of both.
Discover lower calorie options with our 15 of the healthiest alcoholic drinks guide and check out some practical ways to evaluate your drinking habits and drink more responsibly.
Why is alcohol high in calories?
Alcoholic drinks are made from natural sources of sugar and starch, the amounts of calories and sugar in drinks will vary depending on the fermentation and distillation processes. However, one gram of pure alcohol contains 7 kilocalories (kcal) – only fat is higher at 9 kcal per gram, and any residual sugar in your drink (left after fermentation) will contribute a further 4 kcal per gram.
This means the higher the percentage of alcohol (alcohol by volume or ABV), the more calories will be in your drink. If you add mixers, including soft drinks or soda, you’ll increase the calories further and potentially add more sugar, too. This is why if you’re a regular drinker, your consumption may lead to weight gain and is likely to both sabotage your efforts to lose weight and to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
Calories in popular alcoholic drinks
Beer, lager and cider
- 1 pint (568ml) of 5.2% ABV beer, lager = 220 kcal
- 1 pint (568ml) of 3.6% ABV beer, lager =170 kcal
- 1 pint (568ml) of 7.5% cider = 261 kcal
- 1 pint (568ml) of 3-4% ABV session ale = 182 kcal
- 1 pint (568ml) of 5% ABV ale or stout = 244 kcal
Wine, fortified wine, champagne and sparkling wine
- 175ml glass of 13% ABV red wine = 159 kcal
- 175ml glass of 12% ABV white wine = 142 kcal
- 175ml glass of 11% ABV rose wine = 138 kcal
- 125ml glass of 12.5% demi-sec champagne or sparkling wine = 101 kcal
- 125ml glass 9%ABV dry (or 'brut') champagne = 89 kcal
- 50ml measure of 17.5% ABV fortified wine (like sherry) = 77 kcal
The calories in wine vary dependent on the grape variety and whether the wine is ‘dry’, ‘medium’ or ‘sweet’.
Spirits and liqueurs
- 50ml measure of 40% ABV spirit (neat) =110 kcal
- 50ml measure of 17% cream liqueur =164 kcal
- 275ml bottle of 4% ABV alcopop = 170 kcal
Mixers
- 150ml regular tonic water = 32 kcal
- 150ml diet tonic water = 3 kcal
- 150ml cola = 63 kcal
- 150ml diet cola = 1 kcal
- 150ml orange juice = 70 kcal
Don’t see your favourite drink on our list?
Check out the calorie content of other alcoholic drinks in this handy calculator.
Which alcohol is lowest in calories?
To reduce your calorie intake, opt for drinks that are lower in alcohol and avoid adding sugary additions. Here are some lighter drink options:
- A 175ml glass of 0.0% ABV red / white wine = 40 kcal
- A 125ml glass of 0.05% ABV sparkling wine = 24 kcal
- A 330ml bottle of 0.0% ABV beer = 25 kcal
- A 500ml bottle of low-alcohol 0.5% ABV beer = 125 kcal
- A 25ml measure of spirit (neat) such as scotch ‘on the rocks’ = 56 kcal
- A 180ml serving of Bloody Mary (with 25ml vodka) = 95 kcal
- A 250ml serving of vodka soda (with 50ml vodka) = 104 kcal
- A 275ml serving of Gin (with 25ml Gin) and slimline tonic = 57 kcal
These figures are averages based on drinks currently available on the UK market – for more details check specific brands, where relevant.
Regardless of the calorie count, if you choose to enjoy alcohol do so in moderation and alongside a varied diet. High levels of alcohol may disrupt sleep, cloud judgement and potentially interact with prescribed medication, furthermore, alcohol even at low levels increases the risk of certain cancers.
Speak to your GP if you’re worried about your alcohol intake or that of someone you care about. They will be able to suggest ways to help manage your drinking habits and also refer you for counselling or other support services.
Find more information at the NHS website
This content is not a substitute for medical advice and should be used as a general guide only. Always drink responsibly and in moderation.
Found this useful? Read more:
Is wine good for you?
How to cure a hangover
Hangover cures: Fact or fiction?
Is low-alcohol beer healthy?
Is Guinness good for you?
This content was updated on 25 September 2024 by Kerry Torrens.
For alcohol advice, including UK alcohol unit guidelines, information on how drink affects your health and much more, visit the DrinkAware website.
Kerry Torrens is a qualified Nutritionist (MBANT) with a post graduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food.
All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other healthcare professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
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