Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram—almost as much as fat (9 calories per gram) and nearly twice as much as protein or carbohydrates (4 calories per gram). These are "empty calories" with no nutritional value, and a night out can easily add 1,000+ calories to your daily intake without you realising.
Understanding Alcohol Units
One UK alcohol unit equals 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. This standard measurement helps track consumption regardless of drink type.
| Drink | Typical Serving | Units | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single spirit (40%) | 25ml | 1.0 | 55-65 |
| Alcopop (5%) | 275ml bottle | 1.4 | 170-230 |
| Small wine (12%) | 125ml | 1.5 | 85-95 |
| Pint of lager (4%) | 568ml | 2.3 | 180-210 |
| Pint of ale (5%) | 568ml | 2.8 | 220-250 |
| Large wine (12%) | 250ml | 3.0 | 170-190 |
| Bottle of wine (13%) | 750ml | 9.8 | 550-650 |
Beer and Lager Calories
Beer calories vary significantly based on alcohol percentage, brewing style, and whether it's a light or craft variety.
| Beer Type | Serving | ABV | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light lager | Pint | 3.5% | 140 |
| Standard lager | Pint | 4.0% | 180 |
| Premium lager | Pint | 5.0% | 220 |
| Bitter/Ale | Pint | 4.5% | 200 |
| Strong ale | Pint | 5.5% | 250 |
| Stout (Guinness) | Pint | 4.2% | 210 |
| IPA/Craft beer | Pint | 6-7% | 280-350 |
| Cider (dry) | Pint | 4.5% | 200 |
| Cider (sweet) | Pint | 4.5% | 250 |
| Low/no alcohol beer | Pint | 0.5% | 60-80 |
Try Our Free Calorie Calculator
Track calories from alcoholic drinks and manage your overall calorie intake. Get instant results with our Calorie Calculator. You may also find our Alcohol Unit Calculator, BAC Calculator and BMI Calculator useful.
Wine Calories
Wine calories depend on alcohol content, residual sugar, and serving size. UK pubs and restaurants commonly serve 175ml as "standard" and 250ml as "large".
| Wine Type | 125ml | 175ml | 250ml |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry white (11%) | 75 | 105 | 150 |
| Medium white (12%) | 85 | 120 | 170 |
| Sweet white (13%) | 120 | 170 | 240 |
| Red wine (13%) | 95 | 130 | 190 |
| Full-bodied red (14%) | 105 | 145 | 210 |
| Rosé (12%) | 85 | 120 | 170 |
| Prosecco (11%) | 80 | 110 | 160 |
| Champagne (12%) | 85 | 120 | 170 |
| Port (20%) | 90 (50ml) | - | - |
| Sherry (dry, 15%) | 60 (50ml) | - | - |
Spirits and Mixers
Pure spirits contain no carbohydrates, but calories add up quickly when combined with mixers. The UK standard pub measure is 25ml (some venues use 35ml).
| Spirit | 25ml Single | 35ml Single | Double (50ml) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka (40%) | 55 | 77 | 110 |
| Gin (40%) | 55 | 77 | 110 |
| Whisky (40%) | 55 | 77 | 110 |
| Rum (40%) | 55 | 77 | 110 |
| Brandy (40%) | 55 | 77 | 110 |
| Tequila (40%) | 55 | 77 | 110 |
| Sambuca (42%) | 80 | 112 | 160 |
| Jägermeister (35%) | 75 | 105 | 150 |
| Baileys (17%) | 65 | 90 | 130 |
Mixer Calories to Add
| Mixer | Per 200ml | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tonic water | 72 | High sugar content |
| Slimline tonic | 4 | Artificial sweeteners |
| Cola | 84 | High sugar content |
| Diet cola | 1 | Artificial sweeteners |
| Lemonade | 66 | Standard mixer |
| Ginger ale | 68 | Standard mixer |
| Orange juice | 88 | Natural sugars |
| Cranberry juice | 92 | Often sweetened |
| Soda water | 0 | Zero calories |
Cocktail Calories
Cocktails are often the highest calorie alcoholic drinks due to multiple spirits, liqueurs, fruit juices, and syrups.
| Cocktail | Typical Calories | Main Calorie Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Vodka Soda | 60-70 | Spirit only |
| Gin & Slimline Tonic | 60-70 | Spirit only |
| Martini | 120-140 | Gin/vodka + vermouth |
| Gin & Tonic | 170-190 | Tonic water sugar |
| Cosmopolitan | 150-180 | Vodka + triple sec + juice |
| Mojito | 220-250 | Sugar syrup + rum |
| Whisky Sour | 180-220 | Sugar syrup + whisky |
| Margarita | 250-300 | Tequila + triple sec + lime |
| Espresso Martini | 250-280 | Vodka + coffee liqueur + sugar |
| Long Island Iced Tea | 290-320 | Multiple spirits + cola |
| Piña Colada | 450-550 | Coconut cream + rum + juice |
| Strawberry Daiquiri | 300-400 | Fruit purée + sugar + rum |
| Mudslide | 500-600 | Cream + ice cream + liqueurs |
- Gin & tonic → Gin & slimline tonic (saves 70 cal)
- Vodka cranberry → Vodka soda with lime (saves 90 cal)
- Pint of lager → Bottle of light beer (saves 70-90 cal)
- Large wine → Small prosecco (saves 100 cal)
- Piña Colada → Mojito (saves 250 cal)
The Real Impact: A Night Out
Understanding cumulative calories helps put drinking into perspective.
| Scenario | Drinks | Total Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet evening | 2 glasses wine (175ml) | 260 |
| Pub session | 4 pints of lager | 720 |
| Girls' night | Prosecco (half bottle) + 2 cocktails | 800 |
| Football match | 5 pints lager | 900 |
| Big night out | Pre-drinks + 5 pub drinks + shots | 1,200-1,800 |
| Wedding/celebration | Champagne + wine + cocktails | 1,500-2,000 |
Alcohol and Weight Gain
Beyond the direct calories, alcohol affects weight in several ways:
- Lowers inhibitions: More likely to eat unhealthy foods
- Disrupts metabolism: Body prioritises processing alcohol over burning fat
- Increases appetite: Alcohol stimulates hunger hormones
- Poor food choices: The "hangover cure" often involves high-calorie foods
- Reduced exercise: Less likely to exercise after drinking
Tips for Reducing Alcohol Calories
- Alternate with water: Drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink
- Choose spirits with zero-calorie mixers: Vodka soda, gin with slimline tonic
- Avoid rounds: You'll drink at the pace of the fastest drinker
- Use smaller glasses: Small wine glass instead of large
- Check ABV: Choose lower alcohol options (saves both calories and units)
- Skip the shots: Easy to forget but add up quickly
- Eat before drinking: You'll drink less and make better choices
- Plan ahead: Decide how much you'll drink before going out
Alcohol Calories and UK Drinking Culture: The Facts
The UK has a significant relationship with alcohol consumption, and understanding the calorie impact is increasingly important. According to Drinkaware, the average UK adult who drinks regularly consumes approximately 58,000 additional calories per year from alcohol alone, equivalent to eating an extra 221 doughnuts. NHS data shows that alcohol is the second largest source of empty calories in the British diet after sugary soft drinks, contributing to the nation's obesity challenge.
The UK Chief Medical Officers' guideline recommends no more than 14 units of alcohol per week for both men and women, spread over three or more days. At roughly 7 calories per gram, alcohol is almost as calorie-dense as fat (9 calories per gram) and significantly more calorific than protein or carbohydrate (both 4 calories per gram). Public Health England's research found that adults who drink regularly get around 10% of their daily calories from alcohol. The NHS Eatwell Guide does not include alcohol as part of a balanced diet, and since April 2025, all alcoholic drinks sold in England must display calorie information on labels, helping consumers make more informed choices about their intake.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol Calories
Which alcoholic drink has the fewest calories in the UK?
Does alcohol stop your body burning fat?
How many calories are in a typical UK night out?
Did You Know? UK Alcohol and Calorie Facts
The relationship between alcohol and calories is a significant public health consideration in the United Kingdom, where drinking culture is deeply embedded in social life. Understanding the calorie content of alcoholic drinks can help UK adults make more informed choices about their consumption.
Calorie labelling on alcohol. Unlike food products, alcoholic drinks in the UK are currently exempt from mandatory calorie labelling requirements. However, the UK government consulted on introducing mandatory calorie labelling for alcoholic beverages, and several major producers have voluntarily begun including calorie information on packaging. Drinkaware, the UK's leading alcohol education charity, provides a free online unit and calorie counter that covers all common UK drinks. Their data shows that the average UK adult who drinks consumes around 2,600 calories per week from alcohol alone, equivalent to eating approximately 12 extra doughnuts.
UK unit system and calories. The UK measures alcohol in units, where one unit equals 10 ml (8 grams) of pure alcohol. The Chief Medical Officers' guideline of no more than 14 units per week applies to both men and women. At approximately 56 calories per unit of pure alcohol, 14 units contain roughly 784 calories from alcohol alone, before accounting for sugar, carbohydrates, and mixers. A 175ml glass of 13% wine contains about 2.3 units (159 calories), a pint of 4% beer contains about 2.3 units (182 calories), and a 25ml measure of 40% spirit contains 1 unit (56 calories from the spirit alone, though mixers add more).
Low and no-alcohol alternatives. The UK market for low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks has grown by over 30 percent since 2020, driven partly by health-conscious consumers aware of calorie content. Alcohol-free beers typically contain 50 to 80 calories per 330ml bottle, compared to 140 to 180 calories for their regular counterparts. Brands like Lucky Saint, Big Drop, and Athletic Brewing are now widely available in UK supermarkets and pubs, offering substantial calorie savings for those looking to reduce their alcohol intake without giving up the social experience of drinking.
How many calories are in popular UK drinks?
Why does alcohol have so many calories?
What are the lowest calorie alcoholic drinks available in UK pubs?
Dr. Sarah Chen, PhD
Research Scientist, Public Health
Sarah holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of Edinburgh and has published research on UK health metrics and obesity trends. She translates complex medical data into practical, accessible guidance for everyday readers.