With the festive season amongst us, it’s a great time to discuss drinks, as they aren’t all created as equals. What we may see as one standard drink when it comes to driving, isn’t the same in regards to calories. Noting we aren’t here to count calories, but more to create awareness on what is in your drinks, more from a sugar content as well.

So what is your poison of choice?

Lets start from what we are all familiar with, one standard drink, is a unit of measurement we look at in regards to alcohol content, due to our knowledge of how many we can consume in order to stay under the limit to drive. One unit is 8grams of alcohol, which is a small glass of beer, half a glass of wine, or 25ml of a spirit.

 However the count for calories is different, as there is a different sugar content in each alcoholic drink.

Lets take beer for example, coming from Victoria a pot is a more standard order which is 285ml, however once moving to NSW, everyone orders a schooner, 425ml. So we really are never comparing apples with apples. Added to that bottled beer can range from 300-375ml, so it is really hard to compare like for like, especially after a few.

 Wine can range in content simply due to how much fruit is in the variety, as well as a standard pour is 150ml, however when out it can range up to 250ml.

 To simplify it all, I have made everything in calories per 100ml. So for every 100ml this is what you are getting. Note they clearly aren’t like for like on alcohol as 100ml tequila is not the same as 100ml of wine – but to compare calories it is.

Beer, Calories per 100ml

Spirits, Calories per 100ml

Wine, Calories per 100ml

Sparkling Wine, Calories per 100ml  

So how can we understand this? Well if keen to lower your overall consumption, a spirit and soda or low calorie option will be better than say a bottle of wine. As for beer, whilst the lower per 100ml looks great, many don’t stop at one beer, which is 4-5x this, putting a standard beer (425ml, ~220 calories) at double that of a glass of wine (150ml, ~100 calories). Note these are all estimates, and aren’t to be confused with alcohol in each.

As always, drink responsibly and know your limits.