Calories in Alcohol: The Complete Drink-by-Drink Guide
That glass of wine has as many calories as a cookie. Here is what your drinks actually cost your diet.
Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram — almost as calorie-dense as fat (9 cal/g) and nearly double carbs or protein (4 cal/g). But the real damage comes from mixers, added sugar, and the late-night food that follows drinking.
Calorie Count by Drink
Light beer (12 oz): 100 calories. Regular beer (12 oz): 150. IPA/craft beer: 200-350. Red wine (5 oz): 125. White wine (5 oz): 120. Champagne (5 oz): 85. Vodka/gin/rum shot (1.5 oz): 97. Margarita: 275-500. Piña colada: 490. Long Island Iced Tea: 450. Mojito: 220. Moscow Mule: 210. Hard seltzer: 100. Whiskey neat (1.5 oz): 97.
The Hidden Diet Killer
Three glasses of wine at dinner: 375 calories (equivalent to a full meal). Two craft IPAs: 400-700 calories. A night out with 4-5 drinks plus late-night food: 1,500-2,500 calories. This is why people who eat well during the week but drink on weekends do not lose weight — two nights of drinking can erase an entire week of calorie deficit. Alcohol also suppresses fat burning for 12-24 hours as your body prioritizes metabolizing the alcohol.