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Alcohol Calorie Calculator

Find out exactly how many calories are in your drinks. Enter any drink's ABV%, volume, and number of servings in ml or fl oz.

Alcohol Calorie Calculator

Alcohol = 7 kcal per gram

Volume Unit
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Calories per drink

Alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram — nearly as energy-dense as fat. These calories come with minimal nutritional value and can add up quickly across a session. This calculator uses the standard formula: Calories = Volume (ml) × ABV / 100 × 0.789 (density of ethanol) × 7 kcal/g.

Common Alcoholic Drinks — Calories Reference

DrinkServingABV %Calories
Light Beer330 ml / 12 fl oz3.5–4%~100 kcal
Regular Beer330 ml / 12 fl oz5%~140 kcal
Craft IPA (pint)500 ml / 16 fl oz6–7%~250–300 kcal
White Wine150 ml / 5 fl oz12%~120 kcal
Red Wine150 ml / 5 fl oz13.5%~130 kcal
Vodka / Gin / Whiskey44 ml / 1.5 fl oz40%~97 kcal
Tequila shot30 ml / 1 fl oz40%~65 kcal
Prosecco150 ml / 5 fl oz11%~110 kcal
Margarita (cocktail)240 ml / 8 fl oz~15%~200–280 kcal
Cream Liqueur (Baileys)50 ml / 1.7 fl oz17%~160 kcal

How Alcohol Affects Weight and Body Composition

Alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram, making it the second most calorie-dense macronutrient after fat (9 kcal/g). Unlike protein or carbs, alcohol provides essentially no nutritional value — no vitamins, minerals, protein, or fibre. When consumed, alcohol is immediately prioritised for oxidation (the body treats it as a toxin), which temporarily suspends fat oxidation. This means fat burning effectively stops while you're metabolising alcohol. Regular drinking can add significant calorie surpluses: just 3 standard drinks per night, 4 nights per week adds roughly 1,600–2,000 extra calories — nearly a day's worth of food energy weekly.

Frequently Asked Questions

A standard 330 ml lager at 5% ABV contains approximately 140–150 kcal. Light beers (3.5%): ~100 kcal per 330 ml. Craft IPAs (6–7%) in a 500 ml pint: 250–300+ kcal. Strong ales (8%+): can exceed 350 kcal per pint. Calories = Volume (ml) × ABV/100 × 0.789 × 7.
Yes, alcohol contributes to weight gain through multiple mechanisms: (1) direct calorie contribution (7 kcal/g), (2) temporarily halting fat oxidation, (3) increasing appetite and reducing food inhibitions, and (4) disrupting sleep (which elevates ghrelin and reduces leptin, increasing hunger the next day). Occasional moderate drinking can be accommodated in a balanced diet, but regular heavy drinking almost always leads to a calorie surplus.
Yes — the carbohydrates in beer, wine, cider, and mixed drinks count toward your daily carb total. Pure spirits (vodka, gin, whisky at 40% ABV with no mixer) have negligible carbs (~0 g). Beer has 10–15 g carbs per 330 ml. Dry wine: ~4 g per 150 ml glass. Sweet cocktails and ciders can have 20–40+ g carbs per serving, which is significant for low-carb or keto dieters.
Lowest calorie per serving: spirit + soda water (~65–97 kcal), dry white wine (~120 kcal/150 ml), light beer (~100 kcal/330 ml). Avoid sweet mixers, cream liqueurs, and high-ABV craft beers which can triple the calorie count. Switching from a 500 ml IPA (280 kcal) to a spirit + soda water (97 kcal) saves ~183 kcal per drink.

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