The short answer
Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, almost as many as a gram of fat, according to the NHS. A standard 175 ml glass of 12% wine contains up to 158 kcal and a pint of 5% beer up to 222 kcal. By our arithmetic, the alcohol alone in one US standard drink (about 14 g) is about 98 kcal, and in one UK unit (8 g) about 56 kcal, before any sugar or mixer.
Work it out for your drink
A typical strength is filled in. Check your label.
That is
1.2 US standard drinks
= 2.1 UK units
= 1.7 Irish standard drinks
= 1.2 Canadian standard drinks
Each one is 1.2 × one US standard drink:
Key takeaways
- Alcohol has 7 kcal per gram, close to fat (NHS).
- A 175 ml glass of 12% wine is up to 158 kcal; a pint of 5% beer is up to 222 kcal (NHS).
- The alcohol in one US standard drink adds about 98 kcal; one UK unit about 56 kcal, by our arithmetic.
- In a UK study, moderate-to-heavy drinkers lost 1.5% of their body weight on average in a month without alcohol.
Where the calories in a drink come from
The NHS points out that alcohol itself contains a lot of calories: 7 per gram, which is almost as many as a gram of fat. That means the stronger the drink and the bigger the serving, the more calories it has, before counting anything else in the drink, such as sugar or a mixer.
Because a drink's alcohol content can be measured in grams, the calories from the alcohol alone can be estimated. NIAAA defines a US standard drink as about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which works out at about 98 kcal. A UK unit is 8 grams, about 56 kcal. Those figures are our arithmetic from the NHS and NIAAA definitions, and they cover the alcohol only: the whole drink can have more.
Calories in common drinks
The NHS gives figures for two of the most common drinks. A standard 175 ml glass of 12% wine contains up to 158 kcal, and a pint of 5% beer contains up to 222 kcal. Scaling the wine figure, a 750 ml bottle of 12% wine is up to about 680 kcal.
Our standard drink calculator shows how many standard drinks or units your own drink holds; multiply US standard drinks by about 98, or UK units by about 56, for the calories from the alcohol alone.
| Drink | Calories | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 175 ml glass of 12% wine | up to 158 kcal | NHS |
| 750 ml bottle of 12% wine | up to about 680 kcal | NHS glass figure × 750 ÷ 175 |
| Pint (568 ml) of 5% beer | up to 222 kcal | NHS |
| Alcohol in 1 US standard drink (14 g) | about 98 kcal | 14 g × 7 kcal |
| Alcohol in 1 UK unit (8 g) | about 56 kcal | 8 g × 7 kcal |
Does alcohol make you gain weight?
The NHS says that regularly drinking more than it recommends can have a noticeable impact on your waistline. Its tips include not drinking on an empty stomach and, if you do reach for snacks while drinking, choosing a healthier option.
There is also evidence from the other direction. In a 2018 study at University College London, 94 moderate-to-heavy drinkers who stopped drinking for a month lost 1.5% of their body weight on average, about 1.2 kg for someone weighing 80 kg. People who kept drinking showed no significant change. The researchers checked that the weight loss was not explained by changes in diet, exercise or smoking.
Our guide to Dry January benefits covers the other changes measured in that study, including blood pressure and insulin resistance.
Cutting the calories without counting them
Two NHS tips for cutting down also cut calories: choose a smaller drink and choose a lower-strength drink. Because the alcohol itself carries 7 kcal per gram, both changes reduce calories as well as units. Drink-free days, which the NHS also recommends, remove a day's worth of drink calories entirely.
- Swap a 250 ml glass for a 175 ml one: by the NHS unit counts, that is 3 units down to 2.1 at 12%.
- Pick a lower-strength beer or wine: fewer grams of alcohol means fewer calories.
- Eat a proper meal first, so you are not snacking while drinking.
- Add drink-free days to your week and track them.
Common questions
How many calories are in a glass of wine?
According to the NHS, a standard 175 ml glass of 12% wine contains up to 158 kcal. A large 250 ml glass of the same wine holds more alcohol, 3 units instead of 2.1, so it also carries more calories.
Is beer or wine more fattening?
Per serving, the NHS figures put a pint of 5% beer at up to 222 kcal and a 175 ml glass of 12% wine at up to 158 kcal. The alcohol in either carries the same 7 kcal per gram, so a bigger or stronger serving of either adds calories.
Will I lose weight if I stop drinking for a month?
In the UCL study, moderate-to-heavy drinkers who stopped for a month lost 1.5% of their body weight on average. How much you lose depends on how much you drank before and what you eat and drink instead.
When to get help
This site offers self-help tools and information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor, or call one of the lines below, if:
- you feel shaky, sweaty, sick or anxious when you haven't had a drink;
- you find it hard to stop once you start, or you want to cut down and can't;
- drinking is causing problems with your health, work or the people close to you.
Before you stop: It can be very dangerous to stop drinking suddenly if you are dependent on alcohol. If you get withdrawal symptoms, get medical help before you try to stop drinking.
Free, confidential helplines
- United States:SAMHSA National Helpline1-800-662-HELP (4357)Treatment referral and information, 24/7.
- United States:988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988Free and confidential support for people in distress, 24/7.
- United Kingdom:Drinkline0300 123 1110The national alcohol helpline, free and in complete confidence. Weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Sources
- Calories in alcohol. NHS. nhs.uk
- Alcohol units. NHS. nhs.uk
- What Is A Standard Drink?. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). niaaa.nih.gov
- Mehta G, Macdonald S, Cronberg A, et al. (2018). Short-term abstinence from alcohol and changes in cardiovascular risk factors, liver function tests and cancer-related growth factors: a prospective observational study. BMJ Open, 8(5), e020673. PMID 29730627
- Tips on cutting down on alcohol. NHS. nhs.uk
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