How Many Calories Are in Alcohol?
Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram — more than carbohydrates (4 cal/g) or protein (4 cal/g), and almost as much as pure fat (9 cal/g). On top of that, most drinks also carry calories from sugar and other carbs. Understanding both sources is the key to drinking smarter.
Where Alcohol Calories Come From
Every alcoholic drink has two potential calorie sources:
- Alcohol itself — pure ethanol is 7 cal/gram, regardless of the drink type.
- Sugars and carbohydrates — residual sugars from fermentation, mixers, syrups, fruit juice, and cream all add calories on top.
This is why a straight vodka (zero sugar) and a vodka cranberry (loaded with juice) can have the same ABV but wildly different calorie counts. The mixer is where the damage is done in most cocktails.
Fat and dietary protein are essentially zero in alcohol — so when a drink lists 200 calories, those calories are almost entirely from alcohol and sugar.
Typical Calories by Drink Type
Here is a general range per standard serving. Actual numbers vary significantly by brand and recipe — that is exactly what the GetDrunkNotFat database is for.
| Drink | Serving | Typical Calories | Main Calorie Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light beer | 12 oz | 90–110 | Alcohol + small amount of carbs |
| Regular beer | 12 oz | 140–180 | Alcohol + malt sugars |
| IPA / Craft beer | 12 oz | 180–250+ | Higher ABV + residual sugars |
| Hard seltzer | 12 oz | 90–110 | Alcohol only (dry fermentation) |
| Dry white wine | 5 oz | 110–125 | Alcohol + minimal sugar |
| Sweet wine / dessert wine | 5 oz | 165–200+ | Alcohol + residual sugar |
| Vodka / gin / tequila | 1.5 oz | 95–105 | Alcohol only |
| Whiskey / bourbon | 1.5 oz | 100–115 | Alcohol only |
| Rum (dark / spiced) | 1.5 oz | 100–130 | Alcohol + some added sugar |
| Margarita (restaurant) | 8 oz | 250–350 | Alcohol + lime juice + triple sec + sugar |
| Pina colada | 8 oz | 350–500+ | Alcohol + coconut cream + pineapple juice |
| Vodka soda | 8 oz | 96–105 | Alcohol only (soda water = zero calories) |
ABV Is the Biggest Driver of Calories
Because alcohol itself is 7 cal/gram, the single strongest predictor of a drink's calorie count is its alcohol content. A 5% ABV beer in a 12 oz can contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which accounts for about 98 of those calories before any sugars are counted.
This is why a 9% ABV craft IPA can easily hit 250+ calories per can — not because it is loaded with sugar, but simply because it has nearly twice the alcohol of a light lager.
Why "Light" Does Not Always Mean Low-Calorie
"Light" beer in the US typically means lower ABV and fewer calories than the brand's regular version — usually around 95–110 calories per 12 oz. But "light" on wines, ciders, or cocktail mixes is often a marketing term with no regulated standard.
A "light" cocktail mix that still uses full-sugar mixers can easily contain more calories than a straight spirit. Always check the actual calorie count rather than relying on the word light.
The C2AR Score: Calories Relative to Alcohol
At GetDrunkNotFat we use a metric called the C2AR (Calorie to Alcohol Ratio). It measures what percentage of a drink's total calories comes from alcohol itself, rather than from sugars and other fillers.
A score of 100% would mean every single calorie comes from pure alcohol — the most efficient possible drink. Scores above 95% earn an A+. Scores below 40% — meaning most of the calories are sugar, not alcohol — earn an F.
A vodka soda scores A+ because soda water adds zero calories. A margarita made with triple sec and sweetened lime scores much lower because the sugar calories dwarf the alcohol calories.
Look up any drink in the database
Search 615+ beers, wines, spirits, and cocktails — all with exact calorie counts and C2AR scores.