Calories in Alcohol
With 7 calories per gram, the number of calories in alcohol is second only after fat (9 cals/g).
The calories in alcohol are metabolised first by the body, ahead of burning fat - which is not desirable if on a weight loss diet.
How Many Calories are in the Alcohol You Like to Drink?
While it may be a normal part of your social life, the calories in alcohol can wreak havoc on your waistline. You may not realize it, but your happy hour drinks may add up to an entire meal or more.
Alcohol is Part of Life
Every year, over six billion gallons of beer are produced in the United States. The average consumption is 33 gallons per person in the U.S. Alcohol is prevalent at many social functions and is accepted as a normal part of many celebrations.
The Calories in Alcohol
Whether you know it or not, the alcohol you drink on a Saturday night with your friends has a huge impact on your diet. It wouldn't be so bad if you just drank one drink, but typically when the brew starts flowing, one isn't enough. Additionally, studies have proven that weight gained as a result of the calories in alcohol consumption tends to collect on the abdomen.
Beer Belly
According to the labels, beer has a lot of calories. For instance, one 12 ounce serving of Budweiser beer contains 145 calories. Coors Light contains 102 calories, and Corona has 148 calories. One bottle of Michelob contains 155 calories. So, if you just have one beer, it's really not too bad. However, if you consume four, you have nearly 600 calories in your system from just drinking.
Don't be a Whiner
Wine has gotten really good attention lately for containing a high level of antioxidants. It's been linked to preventing heart disease and some kinds of cancers and helping to deter strokes. Despite all of the good press it's been receiving, wine still packs a lot of calories. The recommended serving size for wine is one four ounce glass. Most wines contain nearly 100 calories per serving. Sauvignon Blanc contains 80 calories. Merlot adds 95 calories to your intake. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon both contain 90 calories.
Liquor is Quicker
Liquor contains a lot of calories for such a small amount of liquid. The higher the proof, the higher the calorie content. A typical serving size is one and a half ounces. If the proof of the alcohol is 100 proof, it contains around 124 calories. 80 proof Liquor has 97 calories. One Gin and Tonic contains 200 calories. A single Long Island Iced Tea can add up to 750 calories to your daily caloric intake. A Margarita contributes up to 500 calories to your diet. A little bit of liquor goes a long way where calories are concerned.
What to Do?
It's hard to go out and about socially if you completely cut out alcohol because of your diet. However, there are ways to drink socially, but still control the calorie content. One key thing is to not snack while you're drinking. It's part of the social atmosphere, but typically as you're drinking, you're not as aware of how much you eat, and you fail to stop eating when you're no longer hungry.
Another solution is to reduce the number of nights you drink. Instead of drinking a beer every evening when you get home from work, just do it a night or two. Instead of going out drinking with friends on both nights of the weekend, just drink on one night. By reducing the amount of times you drink, you're going to drastically decrease your calorie intake.
If you don't want to reduce your time spent drinking, you can choose to exercise more. To burn 150 calories spend 15 minutes jogging, 30 minutes bicycling or 35 minutes walking.
Life in Moderation
They say that everything should be taken in moderation. Even gaining awareness that the alcoholic beverages that seem to be a necessary part of your Saturday night festivities are hindering your diet counts for a lot. Knowing how much of an impact they have on your waistline, you can plan accordingly when you know you're going to be in a social setting where alcohol is consumed.
Calories in Alcohol - Wine
| Description | Serving Size | Calories (kCal) | Fat(g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Wine | 175ml Glass | 119 | 0 |
| Red Wine | 250ml Glass | 170 | 0 |
| Red Wine | 1/2 Bottle (37.5cl) | 255 | 0 |
| Red Wine | Bottle (75cl) | 510 | 0 |
| White Wine - Dry | 175ml Glass | 116 | 0 |
| White Wine - Dry | 250ml Glass | 165 | 0 |
| White Wine - Dry | 1/2 Bottle (37.5cl) | 248 | 0 |
| White Wine - Dry | Bottle (75cl) | 495 | 0 |
| White Wine - Medium | 175ml Glass | 130 | 0 |
| White Wine - Medium | 250ml Glass | 185 | 0 |
| White Wine - Sparkling | 175ml Glass | 130 | 0 |
| White Wine - Sparkling | 250ml Glass | 185 | 0 |
| Rose Wine | 175ml Glass | 124 | 0 |
| Rose Wine | 250ml Glass | 178 | 0 |
| Rose Wine | 1/2 Bottle (37.5cl) | 266 | 0 |
| Rose Wine | Bottle (75cl) | 532 | 0 |
| Champagne | 175ml Glass | 133 | 0 |
| Champagne | 250ml Glass | 190 | 0 |
| Champagne | 1/2 Bottle (37.5cl) | 285 | 0 |
| Champagne | Bottle (75cl) | 570 | 0 |
| Port | 50ml Glass | 78 | 0 |
| Port | Large Glass | 157 | 0 |
| White Wine Spritzer (lemonade) | Reg Spritzer (175ml wine) | 138 | 0 |
| White Wine Spritzer (lemonade) | Lge Spritzer (250ml wine) | 193 | 0 |
| White Wine Spritzer (soda) | Reg Spritzer (175ml wine) | 130 | 0 |
| White Wine Spritzer (soda) | Lge Spritzer (250ml wine) | 186 | 0 |
Calories in Alcohol - Gin
| Description | Serving Size | Calories (kCal) | Fat(g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay Sapphire Gin | Single (25ml) | 59 | 0 |
| Bombay Sapphire Gin | Double (50ml) | 118 | 0 |
| Gin & Slimline Tonic | Single | 120 | 0 |
| Gin & Slimline Tonic | Double | 112 | 0 |
| Gin & Tonic | Single | 120 | 0 |
| Gin & Tonic | Double | 175 | 0 |
| Description | Serving Size | Calories (kCal) | Fat(g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka & Coke | Single (25ml) | 120 | 0 |
| Vodka & Coke | Double (50ml) | 175 | 0 |
| Vodka & Diet Coke | Single | 56 | 0 |
| Vodka & Diet Coke | Double | 112 | 0 |
| Vodka, Lime & Soda | Single | 76 | 0 |
| Vodka, Lime & Soda | Double | 131 |
Calories in Alcohol - Rum
| Description | Serving Size | Calories (kCal) | Fat(g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacardi & Coke | Single | 129 | 0 |
| Bacardi & Coke | Double | 194 | 0 |
| Bacardi & Diet Coke | Single | 65 | 0 |
| Bacardi & Diet Coke | Double | 130 | 0 |
| Bacardi Dark Rum | Single (25ml) | 58 | 0 |
| Bacardi Dark Rum | Double (50ml) | 116 | 0 |
| Bacardi White Rum | Single (25ml) | 58 | 0 |
| Bacardi White Rum | Double (50ml) | 116 | 0 |
| Bacardi White Rum | 100ml | 232 | 0 |
Calories in Alcohol - Other Spirits
| Description | Serving Size | Calories (kCal) | Fat(g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisky & Lemonade | Single | 82 | 0 |
| Whisky & Lemonade | Single | 137 | 0 |
| Jack Daniels & Coke | Single | 129 | 0 |
| Jack Daniels & Coke | Double | 193 | 0 |
| Jack Daniels & Diet Coke | Single | 64 | 0 |
| Jack Daniels & Diet Coke | Double | 128 | 0 |
| Southern Comfort & Lemonade | Single | 73 | 0 |
| Southern Comfort & Lemonade | Double | 119 | 0 |
| Southern Comfort & Diet Lemonade | Single | 48 | 0 |
| Southern Comfort & Diet Lemonade | Double | 94 | 0 |
| Martini Rosso | Single (50ml) | 70 | 0 |
| Martini Rosso | Double (100ml) | 140 | 0 |
| Lambrini Bianco M/Dry | 150ml Bottle | 82 | 0 |
| Lambrini Bianco M/Dry | 175ml Glass | 96 | 0 |
| Lambrini Bianco M/Dry | 250ml Glass | 138 | 0 |
| Martini Bianco | Single (50ml) | 72 | 0 |
| Martini Bianco | Double (100ml) | 145 | 0 |
| Martini Extra Dry | Single (50ml) | 48 | 0 |
| Martini Extra Dry | Double (100ml) | 95 | 0 |
| Vermouth, Dry | Single (50ml) | 54 | 0 |
| Vermouth, Dry | Double (100ml) | 109 | 0 |
| Vermouth, Sweet | Single (50ml) | 76 | 0 |
| Vermouth, Sweet | Double (100ml) | 151 | 0 |
Calories in Alcohol - Beer
| Description | Serving Size | Calories (kCal) | Fat(g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol-free Lager | Pint | 20 | 0 |
| Alcohol-free Lager | 1/2 Pint | 40 | 0 |
| Amstel Bier Lager | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Amstel Bier Lager | 330ml Bottle | 132 | 0 |
| Amstel Bier Lager | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Banks Bitter | 1/2 Pint | 85 | 0 |
| Banks Bitter | 500ml Bottle | 150 | 0 |
| Banks Bitter | Pint | 170 | 0 |
| Becks Bier | 1/2 Pint | 102 | 0 |
| Becks Bier | 330ml Bottle | 99 | 0 |
| Becks Bier | Pint | 204 | 0 |
| Best/Premium Bitter | 1/2 Pint | 94 | 0 |
| Best/Premium Bitter | Pint | 187 | 0 |
| Boddingtons Draught Bitter | 1/2 Pint | 85 | 0 |
| Boddingtons Draught Bitter | 440ml Can | 132 | 0 |
| Boddingtons Draught Bitter | Pint | 170 | 0 |
| Bud Ice | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Bud Ice | 330ml Bottle | 132 | 0 |
| Bud Ice | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Bud Light | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Bud Light | 330ml Bottle | 132 | 0 |
| Bud Light | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Budweiser Budvar | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Budweiser Budvar | 330ml Bottle | 132 | 0 |
| Budweiser Budvar | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Budweiser Ice Bottle | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Budweiser Ice Bottle | 330ml Bottle | 132 | 0 |
| Budweiser Ice Bottle | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Carling | 1/2 Pint | 94 | 0 |
| Carling | 330ml Bottle | 165 | 0 |
| Carling | Pint | 187 | 0 |
| Carling Premier | 1/2 Pint | 111 | 0 |
| Carling Premier | 440ml Can | 172 | 0 |
| Carling Premier | Pint | 222 | 0 |
| Carling Rock | 1/2 Pint | 94 | 0 |
| Carling Rock | 330ml Bottle | 109 | 0 |
| Carling Rock | Pint | 187 | 0 |
| Carlsberg Export | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Carlsberg Export | 500ml Bottle or Can | 200 | 0 |
| Carlsberg Export | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Carlsberg Lager | 1/2 Pint | 91 | 0 |
| Carlsberg Lager | Pint | 182 | 0 |
| Carlsberg Special Brew | 1/2 Pint | 196 | 0 |
| Carlsberg Special Brew | 500ml Bottle or Can | 345 | 0 |
| Carlsberg Special Brew | Pint | 392 | 0 |
| Castlemaine XXXX | 1/2 Pint | 111 | 0 |
| Castlemaine XXXX | Pint | 222 | 0 |
| Fosters | 1/2 Pint | 97 | 0 |
| Fosters | Pint | 193 | 0 |
| Fosters Export | 1/2 Pint | 105 | 0 |
| Fosters Export | 440ml Can | 163 | 0 |
| Fosters Export | Pint | 210 | 0 |
| Fosters Ice | 1/2 Pint | 105 | 0 |
| Fosters Ice | 330ml Bottle | 122 | 0 |
| Fosters Ice | Pint | 210 | 0 |
| Grolsch | 1/2 Pint | 122 | 0 |
| Grolsch | 500ml Bottle or Can | 215 | 0 |
| Grolsch | Pint | 244 | 0 |
| Guinness Draught | 1/2 Pint | 105 | 0.1 |
| Guinness Draught | 440ml Can | 185 | 0.3 |
| Guinness Draught | Pint | 210 | 0.3 |
| Heineken | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Heineken | 330ml Bottle | 110 | 0 |
| Heineken | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Heineken Export | 1/2 Pint | 128 | 0 |
| Heineken Export | 440ml Can | 198 | 0 |
| Heineken Export | Pint | 256 | 0 |
| Holsten Export | 1/2 Pint | 111 | 0 |
| Holsten Export | 440ml Can | 172 | 0 |
| Holsten Export | Pint | 222 | 0 |
| John Smiths Bitter | 1/2 Pint | 85 | 0 |
| John Smiths Bitter | 440ml Can | 132 | 0 |
| John Smiths Bitter | Pint | 170 | 0 |
| Labatt Ice | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Labatt Ice | 330ml Bottle | 132 | 0 |
| Labatt Ice | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Labatts | 1/2 Pint | 114 | 0 |
| Labatts | 500ml Bottle or Can | 200 | 0 |
| Labatts | Pint | 227 | 0 |
| Low Alcohol Bitter | 1/2 Pint | 37 | 0 |
| Low Alcohol Bitter | Pint | 74 | 0 |
| Low Alcohol Lager | 1/2 Pint | 28 | 0 |
| Low Alcohol Lager | Pint | 57 | 0 |
| Premium Lager | 1/2 Pint | 168 | 0 |
| Premium Lager | Pint | 335 | 0 |
| Regular Lager | 1/2 Pint | 82 | 0 |
| Regular Lager | Pint | 165 | 0 |
| Regular Bitter | 1/2 Pint | 85 | 0 |
| Regular Bitter | Pint | 170 | 0 |
| Skol Lager | 1/2 Pint | 77 | 0 |
| Skol Lager | 500ml Can | 135 | 0 |
| Skol Lager | Pint | 153 | 0 |
| Staropramen | 1/2 Pint | 116 | 0 |
| Staropramen | Pint | 233 | 0 |
| Stella Artois | 1/2 Pint | 128 | 0 |
| Stella Artois | 440ml Can | 198 | 0 |
| Stella Artois | Pint | 256 | 0 |
| Trophy Bitter | 1/2 Pint | 85 | 0 |
| Trophy Bitter | 440ml Can | 132 | 0 |
| Trophy Bitter | Pint | 170 | 0 |
| Whitbread Best Bitter | 1/2 Pint | 94 | 0 |
| Whitbread Best Bitter | 440ml Can | 145 | 0 |
| Whitbread Best Bitter | Pint | 187 | 0 |