See how many calories are in your drinks by type and serving size.
Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, making it the second most calorie-dense macronutrient after fat (9 cal/g). Unlike protein and carbohydrates (4 cal/g each), alcohol calories provide no nutritional value and cannot be stored or used for muscle repair. Your body prioritizes metabolizing alcohol over other nutrients, which means fat burning pauses while your liver processes drinks. This is one reason alcohol consumption is strongly linked to weight gain, even when total food intake stays the same.
The total calories in a drink come from two sources: the alcohol itself and any added sugars, mixers, or flavorings. A shot of plain vodka has about 97 calories, almost entirely from alcohol. A pina colada can exceed 500 calories because of coconut cream, pineapple juice, and sugar. This calculator accounts for both components based on each drink's typical recipe and serving size.
Beer: A standard 12oz beer at 5% ABV has about 150 calories. Light beers range from 90-110 calories. Craft IPAs and double IPAs can have 200-350 calories per pint due to higher alcohol content and residual sugars from malted grains. Wine: A standard 5oz pour has about 120-130 calories. Red wines tend to be slightly higher than whites. A large restaurant pour (8oz) approaches 200 calories. Spirits: A 1.5oz shot of 80-proof spirits (vodka, whiskey, rum, gin, tequila) has about 97 calories. The calories come entirely from alcohol. Cocktails: Mixed drinks vary enormously. A simple gin and tonic has about 170 calories. A margarita has 270-300. A Long Island Iced Tea can exceed 400 calories because it contains multiple spirits.
Alcohol promotes weight gain through several mechanisms beyond its calorie content. First, your body treats alcohol as a toxin and prioritizes metabolizing it over burning fat or carbohydrates, effectively pausing fat oxidation. Second, alcohol lowers inhibitions and stimulates appetite, leading to increased food consumption (the "drunk munchies" effect). Third, many popular drinks contain significant amounts of sugar from mixers, juices, and syrups. Fourth, alcohol disrupts sleep quality, which is linked to increased hunger hormones. Reducing alcohol intake is one of the simplest dietary changes for weight management. Even cutting from 3 drinks per night to 1 can save over 1,500 calories per week, equivalent to nearly half a pound of fat loss.
Choose spirits with zero-calorie mixers. Vodka with soda water and lime has about 100 calories. The same vodka with tonic water adds 80 calories of sugar. Drink dry wines over sweet. A dry Sauvignon Blanc has about 120 calories per glass, while a sweet Moscato or port can have 160-230. Try hard seltzers. Most have 90-100 calories and 2g of sugar per can. Alternate with water. Having a glass of water between each alcoholic drink cuts your total intake in half and helps with hydration. The BAC Calculator estimates your blood alcohol level based on drinks consumed, and the Calorie Calculator helps plan your daily intake.