How Many Calories are There in Beer and Alcohol?

When watching your caloric intake in an effort to lose weight, everything you put in your mouth adds to your daily total. If you enjoy a beer after work or a cocktail on the weekends, those calories count too. So, needless to say it is important to know how many calories are there in beer and alcohol. As with any foods, there are some alcoholic drinks that have far less calories than others, making them a better choice for the calorie-conscious dieter. Similarly, in order to stay on track with your weight loss goals, you need to make adjustments to what and how you would normally drink. Choosing a refreshment that takes the edge off while maintaining a sensible calorie level for the day doesn’t have to be a challenge. Knowing ahead of time how many calories are there in beer and alcohol gives you the upper hand in making an educated decision.

 
So, How Many Calories Are There in Beer and Alcohol?

Beer (12 oz.)                       140-200 calories
Light Beer (12 oz.)               100 calories
Chardonnay (4 oz.)              90 calories
White Zinfandel (4 oz.)         80 calories
Merlot (4 oz.)                       95 calories
Cabernet Sauvignon (4 oz.)  90 calories
Margarita                             550 calories
Pina Colada                         425-600 calories
Mojito                                 160 calories
Bloody Mary                         90 calories
Rum and Coke                     240 calories

Just like grilled chicken breasts are the dieters alternative to fried chicken thighs, there are a multitude of lower calorie drinks for those of us wanting to keep our bodies functioning on high. When you ask the question “how many calories are there in beer and alcohol?” you most likely do not expect such varying results.

Mixed drinks in particular vary the most. For instance, an average vodka-diet tonic or gin and diet tonic has about 100 calories while a white Russian contains 320 calories. The trick in choosing the right drink for your diet is mixing the alcohol with lower calorie ingredients. Rather than cranberry juice with your vodka, try a diet cranberry juice. Diet tonic will save you 100 calories over regular tonic. These small adjustments in your regular drinks will have you allowing yourself a treat without sacrificing your long term health goals.

By asking “how many calories are there in beer and alcohol?”, and knowing the answer in advance, you can go into your TGIF get-together armed with a plan to enjoy yourself and stick with your weight loss goals.