Charting Calories of Alcohol

If you are a wine lover and think that a glass or two of your favorite drinks would not add to your fattening process, you are highly mistaken. You would be surprised to know that a pint of your favorite beer is equivalent in calories to a slice of a pizza.       

Dive deeper into the calorie content of your all-time favorite drink with us. 

Let's begin with why alcoholic calories (alcohol calories per gram) are extra fattening?

Fermentation and distillation of natural starch and sugar are the main culprits behind the fattening. Alcohol is made from sugar or starch that contains a lot of calories (similar to that of pure fat).

Alcohol consists of empty calories which mean there are no nutritional values attached to them. The vitamins and minerals traces in alcoholic drinks are also negligible to make any important contribution towards our diet.   

Moreover, drinking alcohol reduces the metabolism process of fat in the body to release energy. Alcohol cannot be stored in the body while other nutrients, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates get stored. So, our body tries to do away with the alcohol the soonest. This interrupts the process of absorbing nutrients and burning fat in the body.

Calorie Content of Alcoholic Drinks

Here is the list of some popular alcoholic beverages along with their serving size and the number of calories in each of them:-

Calories in vodka - The serving size of 1.5 oz has around 97 calories same as that in an apple, an egg or a handful of almonds. When compared to beers, ciders, and wines, vodka has fairly low-calorie content. Also, it is free from carbohydrates. Vodka contains only water and alcohol; hence all the calories come from the alcohol. Alcohol content increases in vodka, the calorie content increases. Vodka can also help lower your cholesterol. And, if you are on a weight watch diet, 2 shots of vodka are considered a lower-calorie alcohol.

Vodka as the lowest calorie alcohol

Vodka is the lowest calorie alcohol at around 100 calories per shot (a 50 ml double measure). Make sure not to mix your spirits with high sugar mixes like Red Bull or the lemonade. These tend to increase the calorific value of the drink.

Alternatively, you can substitute your soft drink mixer with soda water or diet tonic. These have very little sugar. And the safest bet is mixing water.

Calories in Beer

Calories in beers vary with brand. Generally it has about 150 calories. Light beer calories range from 50 to 100 calories for a 12-ounce serving.

Calories in Tequila

Tequila short has only 64 calories in the one-ounce shot. Additionally, made up of agave, it is naturally sweet in flavor and eliminates the need for sugar mixers.

When we compare the calories in the tequila shot to the calories in Bourbon biscuit, it was found that calories in 1 Bourbon serving = one biscuit of 13.9 gram, are approximately similar. One biscuit has 67 calories along with other nutrient contents like proteins, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber.

Calories in Wine

A large glass of wine (250 ml) with 13% ABV adds calories equivalent to ice cream (228 calories) to your dinner. This is similar (calories wise) to having ice cream or two fish fingers.

Calories in Whiskey

1 pub shot / 35 ml of whiskey contains 72 calories. And a 100 ml of whiskey renders 207 calories.

Calories in Rum

Rum is a spirit made from sugarcane juice or fermented molasses. A single 25 ml measure of 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) contains 61 calories which are similar to a digestive biscuit.

Calories in Gin

A gin and tonic made with 25 ml of 37.5% ABV gin contain 97 calories which are equivalent to a buttery crumpet. If you add sugar mixers to this drink, you add to the calories. Double gin and tonic you ordered on the table at a bar or pub made with 37.5% ABV contains 149 calories which is similar to chocolate filled pancake.

A Quick Round-up

Cocktails that are mixed with soda cream, ice cream or juices tend to have higher calorific value and if you are on a weight loss regime are trying to maintain a healthy weight then make sure to keep a watch on your alcoholic consumption.