How many calories in alcohol?

If you’re on a weight loss journey, or maintaining a healthy weight, it’s important to be aware of the calories in alcohol. Alcohol has almost the same amount of calories as fat, and because they have no nutritional value, they are often called ‘empty calories.’

According to the NHS:

A 175ml (medium) glass of wine contains up to 158 calories
A pint of 5% strength beer has up to 222 calories
A double measure of spirit, such as vodka or rum, contains around 100 calories
A standard bottle of alcopop contains around 154 calories

The ideal daily calorie intake depends on several factors, such as your age, activity level and size. However, in general, women should aim for 2,000 calories and men should aim for 2,500 calories. To understand what this might look like, read Online Doctor’s guide to eating healthily.

The ‘empty calories’ in alcohol

Drinkaware, a charity working to reduce drink related harm, describes the calories in alcohol as ‘empty calories’ because they are consumed in addition to the calories your body needs. They also note that because your body prioritises processing the alcohol, other processes are interrupted, such as absorbing important nutrients and breaking down fat. Because of this, regularly drinking alcohol means that you are more likely to carry weight around your middle.

Low risk drinking guidelines

To avoid alcohol related weight gain, or if you’re trying to lose weight, we recommend avoiding alcohol completely, or sticking to the low risk drinking guidelines by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers. In summary, the guidelines are:

To avoid health risks associated with alcohol, do not drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
If you drink up to the 14 units, spread this out across the week
Have several drink free days each week

The guidelines also highlight:

If you have one or two heavy drinking episodes each week, your risk of death from accidents, injuries or a long-term illness will increase
The risk of many health problems increases, such as throat and breast cancer, if you drink on a regular basis

14 units is equivalent to six pints of average strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine.

Why does alcohol lead to weight gain?

Studies show that people often drink alcohol without compensating for it, for example, without making dietary changes or exercising. The extra calories from alcohol can lead to weight gain, especially if drinking regularly and heavily. Also, people tend to underestimate the calories in alcohol. A survey by the Royal Society for Public Health showed that:

More than 80% of people did not know or underestimated the calories in a large glass of wine
More than 60% of people did not know or underestimated the calories in a pint of lager

Being mindful of the calories in what you’re drinking is a great place to start when looking to cut down and lose weight.

You’re also likely to eat more after a drinking episode, particularly a heavy one. A study shows that alcohol switches the brain into starvation mode, resulting in an increased appetite. An increased appetite, combined with the extra calories from alcohol, can easily lead to weight gain.

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Alcohol measure conversion chart

Small glass of wine	125ml
Medium glass of wine	175ml
Large glass of wine	250ml
Single shot of spirits	25ml
European shot of spirits	35ml
Double shot of spirits	50ml
Bottle of lager, beer or cider	330ml
Pint of lager, beer or cider	568ml
Half pint of lager, beer or cider	284ml

Calories in alcoholic drinks

Calories in beers and shandies

Drink	Serving size (ml)	Calories	Calories per 100ml
Pilsner	330ml (bottle)	92kcal	28kcal
Lager	568ml (pint)	239kcal	42kcal
Lager shandy	568ml (pint)	199kcal	35kcal
Ale	568ml (pint)	210kcal	37kcal
Stout	568ml (pint)	250kcal	44kcal

Calories in wine

Drink	Serving size (ml)	Calories	Calories per 100ml
Pinot Grigio	175ml (medium glass)	142kcal	81kcal
Chardonnay	175ml (medium glass)	144kcal	82kcal
Sauvignon Blanc	175ml (medium glass)	142kcal	81kcal
Merlot	175ml (medium glass)	142kcal	81kcal
Cabernet Sauvignon	175ml (medium glass)	142kcal	81kcal
Pinot Noir	175ml (medium glass)	144kcal	82kcal
Champagne	125ml (average glass)	89kcal	71kcal
Prosecco	125ml (average glass)	109kcal	87kcal

Calories in spirits and liqueurs

Drink	Serving size (ml)	Calories	Calories per 100ml
Irish cream	60ml	184kcal	306kcal
Spirits	35ml	77kcal	220kcal
Liqueurs	60ml	117kcal	195kcal

Calories in spirit and mixer drinks

Drink	Serving size (ml)	Calories	Calories per 100ml
Single gin & tonic	240ml	167kcal	70kcal
Single whisky & Cola	240ml	183kcal	76kcal
Single vodka, lime, soda	240ml	133kcal	55kcal
Alcopop	275ml (bottle)	170kcal	62kcal

Calories in cocktails

Drink	Serving size (ml)	Calories	Calories per 100ml
Bloody Mary	150ml	123kcal	82kcal
Margarita	70ml	139kcal	199kcal
Vodka Martini	65ml	147kcal	226kcal
Mojito	140ml	159kcal	114kcal
Piña Colada	150ml	174kcal	116kcal
Kir Royal	92ml	105kcal	114kcal
Bucks Fizz	125ml	70kcal	56kcal
Espresso Martini	100ml	230kcal	230kcal
Aperol Spritz	175ml	209kcal	119kcal
Pornstar Martini	200ml	146kcal	73kcal