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How Many Calories in drinks
Alcohol and your diet
If,
like me, you enjoy a couple of glasses of red wine after a hard day
in the office, you've got some extra work to do to make your weight-loss
plan effective.
As well as being 'empty' calories - i.e not necessary for nutrition, alcohol can also play havoc with your willpower and resolve.
A couple of glasses of wine and, as well as the calories shown below, you could find yourself reaching for the crisps or nuts if you're not careful. If you're out with friends you could find yourself talked into going for a curry or pizza and undoing all your hard work!
We're all different so if you want to cut down on your alcohol consumption, you need to look at your own lifestyle and find your own way of doing it - here are a couple of ideas
How to reduce alcohol consumption
-
Give up alcohol completely for a set time - a week - a month - or untill you've hit a target weight - as well as helping your weight loss, it will also have benefits to your long-term health.
- Don't drink in the week. If you like to go out with the gang after work on Fridays or to your favourite bar on Saturday, this could be the way forward BUT just because you've abstained all week, it doesn't mean you can binge on the weekend!
- Have at least two or three alcohol-free days a week.
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or low calorie soft drinks.
- Go for a small glass of wine (125ml) rather than a large (250ml) glass and steer clear of special offers like 'buy two large glasses and get the bottle free'
- If your favourite tipple is a mixer like gin and tonic or vodka and cola , order a tall version with lots of ice and extra low calorie mixer. Stay away from doubles!
- If you are drinking wine at home use a small glass (125ml) and if you are drinking shorts use a measure!
Alcoholic beverages contain very little carbohydrate - most wines and spirits have virtually none.
Calorie counter for popular alcoholic drinks
The calorie counter below will give you an idea of how fattening a drink might be. My maxim is to go for quality rather than quantity. Keep the alcohol measures small and use lots of ice and low calorie mixers. Dry is better than sweet as more of the sugar is converted to alcohol.
Drink |
Kcals |
Measure |
| How many calories in Beer and Lager? | ||
| Beer - Canned and draught bitter | 90 | - half pint |
| Beer - How many calories in Lager (ordinary 3-4% ABV) | 80 - 85 | - half pint |
| Beer - How many calories in Lager (premium 5% ABV) | 90 | - half pint |
| Beer - How many calories in Draught Mild bitter | 70 | - half pint |
| Beer - How many calories in Brown ale | 80 | |
| Beer - How many calories in Bottled Stout | 105 | |
| How many calories in Cider - Dry | 95 | - half pint |
| How many calories in Cider - Sweet | 110 | - half pint |
| How many calories in a glass of Wine? | ||
| How many calories in Dry white wine | 85 | - 125ml |
| How many calories in Medium white wine | 95 | - 125ml |
| How many calories in Sweet white wine | 120 | - 125ml |
| How many calories in Sparkling white wine ( Champagne, cava ) | 95 | - 125ml |
| How many calories in Rose wine, medium | 90 | - 125ml |
| How many calories in Red wine | 85 | - 125ml |
| How many calories in a glass of Spirits? | 50 ml = pub double | |
| How many calories in whisky, gin, vodka etc | 120 | - 50ml |
| How many calories in premium whisky, gin, vodka | 140 | - 50ml |
| How many calories in liquers, brandy | 150 | - 50ml |
| How many calories in a mixer ? | ||
| How many calories in tonic water | 40 | - 100ml |
| How many calories in cola | 45 | - 100ml |
| How many calories in caffeine based energy drink | 45 | - 100ml |
| How many calories in tonic, cola etc (slimline) | 0 | - 100ml |
| How many calories in a glass of water | 0 | any size |
How to Calculate the number of Alcohol Units in a Drink
This is an easy one - even for us maths-challenged types! Simply multiply the Size of the drink by the ABV (Alcohol by Volume) and then divide by 1000.
Example 1 - 500ml Bottle of Strong Lager (5% ABV)
500 x 5 = 2,500
2500/1000 = 2.5 units of Alcohol - Approx
160 Calories
Example 2 - 125ml Glass of Red Wine (12% ABV)
125 x 12 = 1500
1500/1000 = 1.5 units of Alcohol - Approx
85 calories
Example 3 - 50ml Gin (40% ABV)
50 x 40 = 2000
2000/1000 = 2 units of Alcohol - Approx
120 calories
Example 3 is for a pub double of neat (undiluted) mid range gin. Note that premium gin can be up to 47% ABV. The calories in a Gin and Tonic depends on the type of mixer - add zero for low calorie mixer and 80 calories for 200ml of ordinary tonic.
Beer calories can add up fast if you're out for the night
- try a low calorie soft drink for a change - it's healthier too..
Emma's
Daily Diet Tip 
If you're out for the night drink a glass of water or a soft drink alternately with alcoholic drinks...You'll thank me in the morning!
Work out the Calories in drinks
Find out how fattening your favourite tipple is. Is it better to miss out on the profiteroles or the second glass of wine?*
Use
this simple chart as a guide to find out how many calories there are in
drinks.
Keep in mind that measures at home tend to be a lot bigger than pub measures.
half pint = (284ml)
Alcohol calories by ounces
100ml = approx. 3.4 ounces
Minimum cost plan for units of alcohol
( BBC report - opens in new window )
The UK government gave a cool reception to proposals for a minimum charge of 50p per unit of alcohol. In an effort to cut down on binge drinking and cheap supermarket 'loss leaders', England’s chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson had called for the minimum charge to be introduced.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown appeared reluctant to endorse the proposal saying that were no plans to penalise the majority of drinkers who drink sensibly.
Alcohol and Health
The UK official recommendations are a maximum of 14 units of alcohol a week for women and 21 alcohol units a week for men.
It's important that you have a couple of alcohol-free days a week to allow your liver a rest and most medical authorities agree that drying out completely now and again for a couple of weeks to a couple of months will help your long-term health.
Keep an eye on your drinking with our chart and find out how many calories in a pint or bottle of your favourite tipple.
Fast Loans in the UK
Save 450 calories a day without suffering!
Find out how a simple change to your lifestyle can save you 450 calories a day without eating or drinking less.
Read how to keep a food diary
* lose the profiteroles, they are much heavier at 280 calories a serving than even a large 250ml glass of wine at 190-240 calories!
One in ten deaths caused by Alcohol - Daily Telegraph Article (opens in new window)