Calories in alcohol

Is your drinking making you fat? Find out how many calories are in your drink and get tips on avoiding weight gain.

Why does alcohol make me gain weight?

How can I limit my drinking? 



Did you know a standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate, and a pint of lager has about the same calorie count as a packet of crisps? 

In fact, drinking five pints of lager a week adds up to 44,200kcal over a year, equivalent to eating 221 doughnuts.

If you want to know more about how many calories alcohol equals then see below:

| Drink     | Calories (kcal)     | Food equivalent     |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- |
| A standard glass (175ml) of 12% wine       | 126kcal      | 1 Chocolate Mini Roll      |
| A pint of 5% strength beer       | 215kcal      | 1 packet of salted crisps       |
| A glass (50ml) of (17%) cream liqueur       | 118kcal       | 1 Milky Way bar      |
| A standard bottle (330ml) of 5% alcopop       | 237kcal       | 3 teacakes      |
| A double measure (50ml) of 17.5% fortified wine       | 65kcal       | 1 bourbon biscuit       |

## Why does alcohol make me gain weight?

Wine, beer, cider, spirits and all our favourite drinks are made from natural starch and sugar. 

Fermentation, and distillation for certain drinks, is used to produce the alcohol content.

This helps explain why alcohol contains lots of calories – seven calories a gram in fact, almost as many as a gram of fat. And, of course, additional calories can be present in added mixer drinks.


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## How can I limit my drinking? 

-   Stick to health recommendations: men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week, which is equivalent to six pints of average strength beer or 10 small glasses of low strength wine.
-   Alternate an alcoholic drink with a glass of water – this will help to prevent you becoming dehydrated and perhaps drinking more alcohol.
-   Don't drink on an empty stomach. If you do reach for snacks while drinking, go for a healthier option.
-   Drinking in rounds can mean you end up drinking more than you intended. Opt out and drink at your own pace.
-   Try cutting down on alcohol with a friend, as you'll be more likely to stick to it with moral support.
-   Eat a healthier dinner before you start drinking. Order or cook before you start drinking so you're not tempted to go for the less healthy options.
-   Pace yourself by taking small sips.
-   Avoid "binge drinking" – it is not advisable to "save up" your units to splurge at the weekend.
-   If you're drinking white wine, why not add a splash of soda water to help the same number of units last longer?

For more help on reducing your alcohol intake, read [tips on cutting down alcohol](yourmd:/self-care/tips-on-cutting-down-alcohol).


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References

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Article information

Did you know a standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate, and a pint of lager has about the same calorie count as a packet of crisps?

Digital scales with female feet on them and sign no surrounded by Christmas decorations and glass of alcohol