How many calories are in alcohol? Pure alcohol has about 7 kcal per gram. In typical servings, a 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof vodka has about 97 kcal, a 12 oz regular beer about 153 kcal, and a 5 oz glass of wine about 121 to 125 kcal, based on USDA data. The NHS lists a pint of 5% beer at up to 222 kcal and a 175 ml glass of 12% wine at up to 158 kcal.
Those numbers vary with strength, serving size, and sugar. This chart collects the common drinks in one place, then shows how to estimate any drink from its volume and ABV.
Calories in alcohol chart
| Drink | Serving | Calories | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka, gin, rum, whiskey (80 proof) | 1.5 oz (44 ml) | about 97 kcal | USDA |
| Spirits (40%) | 50 ml double | 100 kcal | NHS |
| Regular beer | 12 oz (355 ml) | about 153 kcal | USDA |
| Light beer | 12 oz (355 ml) | about 103 kcal | USDA |
| Beer (5%) | 568 ml pint | up to 222 kcal | NHS |
| Red wine | 5 oz (148 ml) | about 125 kcal | USDA |
| White wine | 5 oz (148 ml) | about 121 kcal | USDA |
| Wine (12%) | 175 ml glass | up to 158 kcal | NHS |
| Fortified wine (17.5%) | 75 ml | 102 kcal | NHS |
| Cream liqueur (17%) | 50 ml | 153 kcal | NHS |
| Alcopop (4.5%) | 275 ml bottle | 154 kcal | NHS |
Published figures differ because they use different strengths and products. Use a label when there is one, and treat these as typical values.
Calories in vodka and other spirits
Plain vodka contains almost nothing except water and alcohol, so nearly all its calories come from the alcohol itself. An 80-proof spirit has about 97 kcal per 1.5 oz, or about 220 kcal per 100 ml, with no meaningful carbohydrate unless it is sweetened or flavoured.
| Pour at 40% ABV | Alcohol-only calories |
|---|---|
| 25 ml UK single | 55 kcal |
| 35 ml UK single | 77 kcal |
| 44 ml US shot | 97 kcal |
| 50 ml double | 110 kcal |
| 70cl bottle | 1,546 kcal |
| 750 ml bottle | 1,656 kcal |
These figures come from the formula below, so a 50 ml double shows 110 kcal here while the NHS lists 100 kcal. The same arithmetic applies to gin, rum, and whiskey at the same strength. Stronger bottles have proportionally more, so a 50% spirit has a quarter more than a 40% spirit.
Calories in beer
Beer gets calories from both alcohol and carbohydrates, so a stronger beer usually has more.
- A 12 oz regular beer: about 153 kcal
- A 12 oz light beer: about 103 kcal
- A 568 ml pint at 5%: up to 222 kcal on the NHS figure
- A 440 ml can at 5%: about 170 kcal, scaled from the NHS pint figure
Scaling the USDA regular beer figure to a pint gives about 245 kcal. The range is a fair picture of how much products differ. Craft beers at 7% or more can be well above either figure, so check the brewer's listing.
Calories in a glass and a bottle of wine
Wine's calories come mostly from alcohol, with more from residual sugar in sweeter styles.
| Serving | Approximate calories |
|---|---|
| 125 ml glass (12%) | up to 113 kcal |
| 5 oz (148 ml) glass | 121 to 125 kcal |
| 175 ml glass (12%) | up to 158 kcal |
| 250 ml glass (12%) | up to 226 kcal |
| 750 ml bottle | about 610 to 680 kcal |
The glass figures scale the NHS value for 175 ml. The bottle range is the USDA 5 oz value at the low end and the NHS value at the high end, so a stronger or sweeter wine can exceed it. Pour size is the biggest variable: see how many ml are in a glass of wine.
The formula for any drink
Alcohol-only calories = ml × ABV (%) × 0.0552
That number comes from alcohol's density of 0.789 g/ml and 7 kcal per gram. It covers only the alcohol, so add the calories from sugar, carbohydrates, and mixers. One UK unit, about 8 grams of alcohol, is about 56 kcal.
Example 1: a 25 ml single of 40% vodka
25 × 40 × 0.0552 = 55 kcal
Example 2: a 175 ml glass of 13% wine, alcohol only
175 × 13 × 0.0552 = 126 kcal, before any residual sugar
Example 3: a gin and regular tonic
50 ml of 37.5% gin: 50 × 37.5 × 0.0552 = 104 kcal. Add 150 ml of regular tonic at about 35 kcal per 100 ml, which is 53 kcal. The total is about 157 kcal.
Check the units for the same drink with the alcohol units calculator or the standard drink calculator. For recording these figures in a food log, see how to track alcohol calories and macros.
Mixers can change the total more than the spirit
A spirit's calories are fairly predictable. The mixer is where a drink can double. Per 150 ml, a typical regular cola or tonic adds about 50 to 65 kcal, a diet version adds nearly none, and fruit juice adds about 60 to 75 kcal. Cream, syrups, and sweet liqueurs add more again, so a dessert cocktail can exceed 300 kcal.
Keeping calories in context
Calories are only one part of the picture. A low-calorie drink still contains alcohol, and alcohol's health risks do not depend on calories. Weekly totals are often more useful than single drinks: five pints of 5% beer can reach about 1,110 kcal on the NHS figure.
[Alcohol Tracker°](/) records calories alongside volume, ABV, and units on iPhone and Apple Watch, so the number stays linked to the drink that produced it.
Calorie counts do not measure impairment. Never use them to decide whether you can drive. If you have been drinking, arrange a sober lift, a taxi, or public transport. If calorie tracking starts to feel distressing or leads you to skip meals to "save" calories for alcohol, speak to a healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in a shot of vodka?
A 1.5 oz (44 ml) shot of 80-proof vodka has about 97 kcal. A 25 ml UK single at 40% has about 55 kcal from alcohol.
How many calories are in a pint of beer?
The NHS lists a pint of 5% beer at up to 222 kcal. A pint of weaker beer has less, and a stronger craft beer can have considerably more.
How many calories are in a glass of wine?
A 5 oz glass has about 121 to 125 kcal on USDA figures. The NHS lists a 175 ml glass of 12% wine at up to 158 kcal.
How many calories are in a bottle of wine?
A 750 ml bottle has roughly 610 to 680 kcal. Stronger or sweeter wines can have more.
Which alcoholic drink has the fewest calories?
Per serving, a small measure of a plain spirit with a zero-sugar mixer or a light beer tends to be lowest. Per unit of alcohol, the difference is smaller, because the alcohol itself supplies most of the calories.
The quick answer
Alcohol has about 7 kcal per gram. A 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof vodka has about 97 kcal, a 12 oz beer about 153, a 5 oz glass of wine 121 to 125, and a pint of 5% beer up to 222. To estimate any drink, multiply ml × ABV × 0.0552, then add the mixer.
Sources: NHS: Calories in alcohol, USDA FoodData Central, NIAAA: What is a standard drink?, and NHS alcohol units.
Keep exploring
Use the calculator or continue with a related guide:
Put the guide into practice
Keep a clearer drink diary.
Track units, standard drinks, cost, calories, dry days and estimated BAC on iPhone and Apple Watch.
