Calories in Alcoholic Drinks - Calorie Chart for Alcohol Beverages
Calories in liquid form have often been cited as a major cause of the obesity epidemic throughout the world. On average most Americans consume about 160 calories in sugary drinks, such as popular sodas and energy drinks every day. This is equivalent to about 10% of the average calories required by men and women (daily allowance for women 1940 calories; men 2550).
But a hidden aspect that has not been studied is the calories people get from alcoholic drinks.
The insidious aspect of this is that people tend to overeat when they have had a few drinks on junk food and unhealthy snacks.
Most people are unaware of the calorie content of their favorite drink and that alcohol itself contains calories.
Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, which is just below the level in fat (9 calories/gram), about double the amount in sugar (4 Calories/gram) and honey (3 Calories/gram).
This article provides a detailed chart of the calories in popular alcoholic drinks and reviews the literature to show how many calories the average person is getting from their favorite alcohol containing beverages.
How Many Calories are Consumed Daily in Alcoholic Drinks?
The study looked at gender differences and age groups.
The major findings from this and similar studies were:
- Average alcohol consumption was about 100 calories (equivalent to 1 can of beer or one glass of wine)
- Alcoholic drinks represented about 16% of the average daily calorie intake
- Average calories consumed in alcoholic beverage was 150 calories per day for men, which was three times that for women (50 calories per day)
- 20% men drank more than 300 calories per day in alcoholic beverages (equivalent to two cans of beer or 2 1/2 glasses of wine)
- 6% of women drink more than 300 calories per day.
- About 30% of men and 20% of women had at least one alcoholic drink a day
- Younger male adults were the heaviest drinkers. Men aged 20-39 years consumed about 180 calories of alcohol a day, double that consumed by men over 60 (about 100 calories per day).
- Younger women consumed about one third of the alcohol of males of a similar age. Women aged 20-39 years consumed an average of about 60 calories per day)
- Older women (over 60 years of age) consumed about half that of younger women, and about one third of that consumed by older males. Women over 60 consumed about 33 alcohol calories a day.
- Most men obtained their calories from beer, whereas the study found that the source of calories for women was equally split between beer, wine and spirits.
The figures below detail the findings from the study.
Foods containing about 100 Calories
|
Food
|
Serving Size
|
Calories
|
|---|---|---|
|
Potatoes, mashed w/milk and butter
|
1/2 cup
|
100
|
|
Frozen yogurt, fat-free
|
1/2 cup
|
95
|
|
Turkey, dark meat with skin
|
1.5 oz. cooked
|
94
|
|
Prune juice
|
1/2 cup
|
90
|
|
Whole milk yogurt, plain
|
1/2 cup
|
90
|
|
Beef jerky
|
1 oz.
|
90
|
|
Fish, Cod
|
3 oz. cooked
|
90
|
|
Muffin, corn
|
1/2 (1 oz.)
|
88
|
|
Chicken breast with skin
|
1.5 oz. cooked
|
85
|
|
Peanuts, oil roasted
|
20
|
85
|
|
Almonds
|
12
|
84
|
|
Cashews
|
9
|
83
|
|
Bread, white
|
1 slice
|
80
|
|
Bread, wheat
|
1 slice
|
80
|
|
Muffin, blueberry
|
1/2 (1 oz.)
|
80
|
|
Apple
|
1 medium
|
80
|
|
Avocado
|
1/4 medium
|
80
|
|
Blueberries
|
1 cup
|
80
|
|
Cheese, reduced-fat
|
1 oz.
|
80
|
|
Cottage cheese, fat-free
|
1/2 cup
|
80
|
|
Feta cheese
|
1 oz.
|
80
|
|
Peanuts, dry roasted
|
20
|
80
|
|
Pecans
|
15
|
80
|
The Empty Calories in Alcoholic Beverages and Food Equivalents
Research studies have shown that most people are unaware of calories in drinks.
People on diets often don't include these calories when calculating and tracking their daily calorie consumption, nor do they consider cutting back on these drinks as a priority.
Unlike food, alcoholic beverage have very little or no nutritional value and are effectively 'empty calories'.
The table opposite shows a list of foods that provide about 100 calories, equivalent to the average amount consumed in alcoholic drinks every day.
The table below shows the calorie content of popular drinks.
Only light beer and small servings of spirits have less than 100 calories.
Effect of Alcohol on Snack and Food Consumption
Everyone is aware that when having a few drinks most people eat lots of snacks such as peanuts and chips. After several drinks, many people also tend to eat junk foods, and high fat foods.
The average boost to the overall calorie intake for the meal plus the alcohol drinks was about 33%.
|
Alcoholic drink
|
Calories
|
|---|---|
|
Mai tai, 4 oz.
|
310
|
|
Margarita, 4 oz.
|
270
|
|
Frozen daiquiri, 4 oz.
|
216
|
|
Wine, dessert, sweet, 4 oz.
|
180
|
|
Beer, regular, 12 oz.
|
150
|
|
Gin, 1.5 oz.
|
110
|
|
Whiskey, 1.5 oz.
|
105
|
|
Beer, lite, 12 oz.
|
100
|
|
Rum, 1.5 oz.
|
96
|
|
Vodka, 1.5 oz.
|
96
|
|
Wine spritzer, 4 oz.
|
49
|
Drinks with the Highest and Lowest Calorie Densities (Cal/100ml) and Exercise Equivalents
|
Beverages
|
Calories per 100 ml
|
Time in Minutes Equivalent (Brisk Walk) to Burn Calories in a Standard Serve
|
|---|---|---|
|
FIFTEEN HIGHEST
|
||
|
Liqueurs
|
440
|
40
|
|
Creme liqueur (50, 15% ABV)
|
350
|
37
|
|
80-proof gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, tequila
|
229
|
21
|
|
Brandy, cognac
|
229
|
21
|
|
Martini (extra dry)
|
217
|
29
|
|
Cosmopolitan
|
186
|
31
|
|
Pina Colada
|
179
|
97
|
|
Vermouth, sweet
|
164
|
30
|
|
Manhattan
|
164
|
35
|
|
Port
|
158
|
19
|
|
Margarita
|
147
|
36
|
|
Whiskey sour
|
143
|
26
|
|
Sherry
|
132
|
16
|
|
TEN LOWEST
|
||
|
Spirit with energy drink (e.g. 25ml vodka, 40% ABV, 150 energy drink)
|
70
|
26
|
|
Red Wine
|
67
|
20
|
|
Spirit and mixer (e.g. 25ml vodka, 40% ABV, 150 cola)
|
67
|
25
|
|
Dry white Wine
|
63
|
19
|
|
Spirit with fruit juice (e.g. 25ml vodka, 40% ABV, 150 orange juice)
|
62
|
23
|
|
Alcopop (275ml, 5% ABV)
|
62
|
36
|
|
Pint of strong lager (beer) (568ml, 8.5% ABV)
|
59
|
71
|
|
Beer - Regular
|
44
|
32
|
|
Pint of lager (beer) (568 ml, 5% ABV)
|
44
|
53
|
|
Pint of cider (568ml, 5% ABV)
|
43
|
52
|
|
Spirit and sugar-free mixer (e.g. 25ml vodka, 40% ABV, 150 diet cola)
|
33
|
12
|
|
Beer - Light
|
32
|
23
|
Most people are well aware that when they drink alcohol they are hungrier and generally eat more than usual? The late-night munchies is a reality. This occurs because alcohol stimulates the appetite and can impair your judgment and control especially for those on a weight-loss plan.
Tips for reducing food calorie intake when consuming alcohol:
- Learn to sip alcoholic drinks to limit the number you drink
- Use water to quench your thirst when drinking alcoholic beverages
- Keep to your self-imposed limits of drinks and snacks
- Choose light versions of drinks whenever you can, or small glass sizes
- Make sure the snacks available are the low calorie and healthy type
- Limit the number of drinks before meals, and drink them during the meal instead
- Always have food in your stomach before you have a drink
- Swap one nonalcoholic drink for each alcoholic drink during a session
- Resist the temptation to gorge on fast foods after drinking
Chart of Calories in Alcoholic Beverages
The chart below lists the drink with the highest and lowest calories per 100ml, and the minutes of brisk walking that would be required to burn the equivalent number of calories.
Understandable the highest calories are for the pure spirit rinks because of the high calorie content of the alcohol itself.
Light beer has the lowest calorie density along with red and white wine and the diluted spirit drinks.
If you intend to walk off the extra calories consumed in drinks by walking you may be in for a shock.
Even a standard serve of light beer, or one of the other beers, is equivalent to about 30 minutes brisk walking, and if you have two glasses and you are up for an hour walk.
One pint of strong lager is equivalent to 70 minutes of walking and a nip of liqueur 40 minutes.
A more detailed chart is provided below that includes most common drinks with their standard serving sizes in millilitres and fluid ounces.
The drinks are listed by number of calories in a standard serve, but the chart can be sorted using the column headings.
A selection of soft drinks, colas and fruit juices is provided for comparison.
This shows that 100ml of all the non-alcoholic drinks have less calories than the alcoholic ones, except for vodka with diet cola.
A glass of Red or White wine has fewer calories than a light beer, despite the higher calorie density in wine.
This chart can be used as a guide to control calorie intake while enjoying alcoholic beverages.
|
Beverages
|
Serving Size (ml)
|
Serving Size ( fl. oz.)
|
Calories
|
Time equivalent Brisk walk
|
Calories per 100 ml
|
Calories per fl. oz.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pina Colada
|
257
|
9
|
460
|
97
|
179
|
51.1
|
|
Pint of strong lager (beer) (568ml, 8.5% ABV)
|
568
|
19.88
|
335
|
71
|
59
|
16.9
|
|
Pint of lager (beer) (568 ml, 5% ABV)
|
568
|
19.88
|
250
|
53
|
44
|
12.6
|
|
Pint of cider (568ml, 5% ABV)
|
568
|
19.88
|
244
|
52
|
43
|
12.3
|
|
Liqueurs
|
43
|
1.5
|
188
|
40
|
440
|
125.3
|
|
Large glass of wine (250, 13% ABV)
|
250
|
8.75
|
178
|
38
|
71
|
20.3
|
|
Creme liqueur (50, 15% ABV)
|
50
|
1.75
|
175
|
37
|
350
|
100
|
|
Double spirit and mixer (e.g. 50 vodka, 40% ABV, 150 cola)
|
200
|
7
|
172
|
36
|
86
|
24.6
|
|
Alcopop (275ml, 5% ABV)
|
275
|
9.63
|
170
|
36
|
62
|
17.7
|
|
Margarita
|
114
|
4
|
168
|
36
|
147
|
42
|
|
Manhattan
|
100
|
3.5
|
164
|
35
|
164
|
46.9
|
|
Beer - Regular
|
342
|
12
|
149
|
32
|
44
|
12.4
|
|
Cosmopolitan
|
78
|
2.75
|
146
|
31
|
186
|
53.1
|
|
Mojito
|
171
|
6
|
143
|
30
|
84
|
23.8
|
|
Vermouth, sweet
|
86
|
3
|
140
|
30
|
164
|
46.7
|
|
Martini (extra dry)
|
64
|
2.25
|
139
|
29
|
217
|
61.8
|
|
Sweet Wine
|
143
|
5
|
126
|
27
|
88
|
25.2
|
|
Martini (traditional)
|
64
|
2.25
|
124
|
26
|
193
|
55.1
|
|
Standard glass of wine (175ml, 13% ABV)
|
175
|
6.13
|
124
|
26
|
71
|
20.2
|
|
Daquiri
|
114
|
4
|
122
|
26
|
107
|
30.5
|
|
Spirit with energy drink (e.g. 25ml vodka, 40% ABV, 150 energy drink)
|
175
|
6.13
|
122
|
26
|
70
|
19.9
|
|
Whiskey sour
|
86
|
3
|
122
|
26
|
143
|
40.7
|
|
Spirit and mixer (e.g. 25ml vodka, 40% ABV, 150 cola)
|
175
|
6.13
|
117
|
25
|
67
|
19.1
|
|
Champagne/ Sparkling Wine (150, 9.5% ABV)
|
150
|
5.25
|
111
|
23
|
74
|
21.1
|
|
Beer - Light
|
342
|
12
|
110
|
23
|
32
|
9.2
|
|
Spirit with fruit juice (e.g. 25ml vodka, 40% ABV, 150 orange juice)
|
175
|
6.13
|
109
|
23
|
62
|
17.8
|
|
Vermouth, dry
|
86
|
3
|
105
|
22
|
123
|
35
|
|
80-proof gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, tequila
|
43
|
1.5
|
98
|
21
|
229
|
65.3
|
|
Brandy, cognac
|
43
|
1.5
|
98
|
21
|
229
|
65.3
|
|
Red Wine
|
143
|
5
|
96
|
20
|
67
|
19.2
|
|
Dry white Wine
|
143
|
5
|
90
|
19
|
63
|
18
|
|
Port
|
57
|
2
|
90
|
19
|
158
|
45
|
|
Small glass of wine (125ml, 13% ABV)
|
125
|
4.38
|
89
|
19
|
71
|
20.3
|
|
Champagne
|
114
|
4
|
84
|
18
|
74
|
21
|
|
Sherry
|
57
|
2
|
75
|
16
|
132
|
37.5
|
|
Spirit and sugar-free mixer (e.g. 25ml vodka, 40% ABV, 150 diet cola)
|
175
|
6.13
|
57
|
12
|
33
|
9.3
|
|
Non_Alcoholic Beverages
|
||||||
|
Prune Juice
|
100
|
3.51
|
77
|
16
|
77
|
21.9
|
|
Pomegranate Juice
|
100
|
3.51
|
68
|
14
|
68
|
19.4
|
|
Pineapple Juice
|
100
|
3.51
|
56
|
12
|
56
|
16
|
|
V8 Vegetable Juice
|
100
|
3.51
|
50
|
11
|
50
|
14.2
|
|
Apple Juice
|
100
|
3.51
|
49
|
10
|
49
|
14
|
|
Orange Juice
|
100
|
3.51
|
47
|
10
|
47
|
13.4
|
|
Lemonade
|
100
|
3.51
|
42
|
9
|
42
|
12
|
|
Carrot Juice
|
100
|
3.51
|
40
|
8
|
40
|
11.4
|
|
Cola soft drink
|
100
|
3.51
|
38
|
8
|
38
|
10.8
|
|
Tomato Juice
|
100
|
3.51
|
17
|
4
|
17
|
4.8
|