Lowest Calorie Alcohol: Beer, Wine and Spirits Compared
Of the common drinks compared below, a 30 mL nip of spirits on its own or with soda water or a diet mixer has the fewest kilojoules, at about 260 kJ (60 calories), followed by a 375 mL can of light beer at about 380 kJ (90 calories). These figures are worked out from the Australian Food Composition Database (Food Standards Australia New Zealand). For most drinks, it is the alcohol itself, not sugar or other carbohydrate, that supplies most of the kilojoules (Cancer Council Victoria), so fewer and smaller drinks mean fewer kilojoules.
This is general information, not medical advice. Outcomes vary between individuals, and a doctor or dietitian can help you plan changes that suit your needs.
On this page
- Key Points
- What Is the Lowest Calorie Alcohol?
- Kilojoules per Standard Drink
- Beer and Cider
- Which Wine Has the Fewest Calories?
- Spirits, Mixers and Premixes
- Can You Drink Alcohol and Still Lose Weight?
- How to Cut Kilojoules When You Drink
- Alcohol Guidelines and Getting Help
- Where Medical Treatment Fits
- Frequently Asked Questions
Key Points
Alcohol has 29 kJ per gram, so one standard drink (10 g of alcohol) carries about 290 kJ before anything else in the glass (Better Health Channel).
Per serve, a nip of spirits with soda water or a diet mixer and a can of light beer have the fewest kilojoules of the drinks compared. A can of apple cider has the most.
Per standard drink, spirits and wine carry the fewest kilojoules, while beer and cider carry more.
Regular tonic water or cola adds about 290 to 430 kJ and 18 to 26 g of sugars to a spirit, worked out for 200 mL of mixer.
Low-carb beer in Australian food data is full-strength beer with less carbohydrate. A can has about the same kilojoules as mid-strength beer, with more alcohol.
What Is the Lowest Calorie Alcohol?
The table ranks common drinks by the energy in one typical serve.
Energy and sugars per serve
| Drink and serve | Energy | Sugars |
|---|---|---|
| Spirits, 30 mL nip | 260 kJ (60 cal) | 0 g |
| Light beer, 375 mL can | 380 kJ (90 cal) | 0 g |
| Rosé, 150 mL glass | 430 kJ (100 cal) | 1.1 g |
| White wine, 150 mL glass | 450 kJ (110 cal) | 0.3 g |
| Sparkling white, 150 mL glass | 460 kJ (110 cal) | 1.5 g |
| Low-carb beer, 375 mL can | 480 kJ (110 cal) | 0 g |
| Mid-strength beer, 375 mL can | 480 kJ (110 cal) | 0 g |
| Red wine, 150 mL glass | 500 kJ (120 cal) | 0.3 g |
| Full-strength beer, 375 mL can | 570 kJ (140 cal) | 0 g |
| Strong beer, 375 mL can | 660 kJ (160 cal) | 0.8 g |
| Apple cider, 375 mL can | 790 kJ (190 cal) | 21.0 g |
Source: Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Australian Food Composition Database, Release 3, average values per 100 mL for each drink type, multiplied up to the serve shown. Kilojoules are rounded to the nearest 10, and calories are kilojoules divided by 4.2. Strong beer is 5% alcohol or more. Spirits figures leave out any mixer. This is arithmetic only: brands differ, and the label shows the details of each product.
A serve of spirits has the fewest kilojoules because the serve is small. Light beer is the lowest of the beers, at about 190 kJ less than a can of full-strength beer. Apple cider is the highest, with 21.0 g of sugars a can, against 1.5 g or less for every other drink in the table.
Kilojoules per Standard Drink
Serve sizes differ, so a fairer test is the energy that comes with the same amount of alcohol. One standard drink holds 10 g of alcohol.
Standard drinks per serve, and energy per standard drink
| Drink and serve | Standard drinks | Per standard drink |
|---|---|---|
| Spirits, 30 mL nip | 0.9 | 290 kJ (70 cal) |
| Red wine, 150 mL glass | 1.7 | 300 kJ (70 cal) |
| White wine, 150 mL glass | 1.5 | 300 kJ (70 cal) |
| Rosé, 150 mL glass | 1.4 | 310 kJ (70 cal) |
| Sparkling white, 150 mL glass | 1.5 | 310 kJ (70 cal) |
| Low-carb beer, 375 mL can | 1.4 | 350 kJ (80 cal) |
| Strong beer, 375 mL can | 1.7 | 380 kJ (90 cal) |
| Full-strength beer, 375 mL can | 1.4 | 410 kJ (100 cal) |
| Mid-strength beer, 375 mL can | 1.1 | 430 kJ (100 cal) |
| Light beer, 375 mL can | 0.8 | 480 kJ (110 cal) |
| Apple cider, 375 mL can | 1.5 | 530 kJ (130 cal) |
Source: worked out from the alcohol and energy values in the Australian Food Composition Database, Release 3, at 10 g of alcohol per standard drink. The healthdirect standard drinks guide counts a 30 mL nip of 40% spirits as 1 standard drink and a 150 mL glass of 13% red wine as 1.5, against 0.9 and 1.7 here, because the database's average spirit holds a little less alcohol and its average red wine a little more. The label shows the number for each product. Arithmetic only.
Spirits and wine carry little energy beyond their alcohol.
Spirits sit right on the 290 kJ line, because a neat spirit has almost nothing in it besides alcohol and water (0.1 g of carbohydrate per 100 mL). Wine sits just above it. Beer carries more, because beer also has carbohydrate: about 2.2 to 2.3 g per 100 mL in light, mid-strength and full-strength beer, even though no sugars are listed for them. Cider carries the most, because all of its 5.6 g of carbohydrate per 100 mL is sugars.
Light beer shows why both views matter. A can of light beer has fewer kilojoules than any other beer, but it also has less alcohol, so per standard drink it carries more energy than full-strength beer.
Beer and Cider
Beer is sold as light, mid-strength or full-strength, and the label must show the alcohol content and the number of standard drinks. A full-strength schooner (425 mL) has about 650 kJ (150 calories) and about 1.6 standard drinks.
The low-carb beer in the table is full-strength beer with less carbohydrate: 1.0 g per 100 mL against 2.3 g in regular full-strength beer. A can has about 480 kJ, the same as a can of mid-strength beer, and about 1.4 standard drinks against 1.1. Drinks over 1.15% alcohol can only make nutrition content claims about energy, carbohydrate, sugar or gluten, and cannot make health claims (Food Standards Australia New Zealand).
Which Wine Has the Fewest Calories?
Dry table wines differ only a little. Per 100 mL, semillon has the fewest kilojoules of the eight grape varieties listed, at 267 kJ, and shiraz has the most, at 338 kJ. White wine averages 301 kJ and red wine 332 kJ, and red wine also averages more alcohol (11.1 g against 10.0 g per 100 mL). The white and red table wines listed have 0.4 g of sugars or less per 100 mL.
Sweet and fortified wines are higher. Per 100 mL, sweet dessert wine has 517 kJ and 15.3 g of sugars, and port has 624 kJ and 12.9 g of sugars.
Wine usually ranges from 9% to 16% alcohol, depending on the brand and type (Better Health Channel), so the number of standard drinks in a glass varies too. The label shows the number for each bottle.
Spirits, Mixers and Premixes
The mixer can matter more than the spirit. Australian food data does not split spirits by type: vodka, gin, rum, whisky and brandy share one figure, for spirits of about 40% alcohol. The table shows a 30 mL nip of spirits with 200 mL of each mixer.
| Mixer (200 mL) | Energy | Sugars |
|---|---|---|
| None (neat) | 260 kJ (60 cal) | 0 g |
| Soda water (vodka soda) | 260 kJ (60 cal) | 0 g |
| Diet tonic (gin and diet tonic) | 260 kJ (60 cal) | 0 g |
| Diet cola (rum and diet cola) | 260 kJ (60 cal) | 0 g |
| Tonic water | 550 kJ (130 cal) | 18.2 g |
| Ginger beer or ale | 580 kJ (140 cal) | 20.4 g |
| Cola | 680 kJ (160 cal) | 25.6 g |
Source: Australian Food Composition Database, Release 3, spirits at about 40% alcohol plus 200 mL of each soft drink or water. Arithmetic only; your glass may hold more or less mixer.
A premix holds both the spirit and the mixer, so its kilojoules depend on its alcohol and its sugars. Each standard drink in the can brings the same alcohol energy as any other standard drink, and the label shows how many standard drinks the can holds. A cocktail made with 60 to 90 mL of spirits holds 2 to 3 standard drinks, and some cocktails hold as much alcohol as 4 standard drinks. Australian food data has no figures for premixes, cocktails or hard seltzers, which vary by brand, so check the label.
Labels are changing. From 13 August 2028, labels on packaged alcoholic drinks will need to show energy per serve and per 100 mL, the serve size and the number of standard drinks per serve. For now, a nutrition information panel is required on an alcoholic drink only when the label makes a nutrition claim.
Can You Drink Alcohol and Still Lose Weight?
Weight gain from alcohol is possible but not inevitable, and cutting back on or stopping alcohol may result in weight loss, although many factors play a part (Better Health Channel). A systematic review summarised by the same source found that it is unclear whether alcohol is a risk factor for weight gain, because studies have found a positive, a negative or no link. Even so, there are good reasons to think alcohol may play a role. It stops your body from burning fat, it is high in kilojoules, it makes you feel hungrier and less full, and it can lead to cravings for salty and greasy foods.
Whether drinking affects your weight depends on what, how much and how often you drink, what you eat when you drink, your overall diet, your activity, your genes, your gender and your age. Drinks, alcohol included, are among the sources of energy that are easy to miss, as covered in why you may not be losing weight in a calorie deficit.
To lose weight, you need to take in less energy than you use, so the body draws on stored energy, mostly fat. Kilojoules from drinks count towards that balance, and the guides to what a calorie deficit is and how to work out yours and how many calories a day you need to lose weight show how to set a target. To split that target into protein, carbohydrate and fat, see how to calculate macros for weight loss.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines advise eating from the five food groups and, if you choose to drink alcohol, limiting it. Physical activity is the other side of the energy balance. Australia's guidelines for adults recommend moderate to vigorous physical activity for 30 minutes or more on most days, and muscle-strengthening activity on 2 or more days a week. For walking targets, see how many steps a day can support weight loss, and for the whole plan, see how to lose weight. Rates of weight loss vary between individuals.
How to Cut Kilojoules When You Drink
Count your standard drinks. A drink in a bar or restaurant is likely to hold more than one standard drink.
Choose a smaller or lighter serve. The bigger the serve, the more energy, and a low-alcohol or no-alcohol beer, wine or spirit cuts the alcohol.
Pick a mixer with no kilojoules. Soda water, diet tonic or diet cola adds almost nothing, while regular soft drink adds sugars.
Alternate with water. Swap every second drink for sparkling water, or soda and lime, and use water to quench your thirst.
Dilute and sip slowly. Dilute drinks with ice or soda water, and sip them slowly.
Eat a meal. Eat before you go out or schedule a meal while you drink.
Plan alcohol-free days. Try alcohol-free days during the week, such as Sunday to Thursday.
A worked example shows how much the choice of drink can change one night out. Four full-strength schooners come to about 2,600 kJ and about 6.4 standard drinks, which is over the guideline of no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. Four nips of spirits with soda water come to about 1,040 kJ and 4 standard drinks, counting one standard drink per nip of 40% spirits as in the guide quoted under Table 2, which reaches that daily limit. The average adult needs about 8,700 kJ a day (healthdirect), so the four schooners equal about 30% of that figure. This is arithmetic only, and needs vary between individuals. Cutting sugary drinks and alcohol is also the first step in how to lose weight without exercise.
Alcohol Guidelines and Getting Help
Healthy adults should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day, to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury. Ten standard drinks hold about 2,900 kJ from the alcohol alone (arithmetic only). People under 18, and women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, should avoid alcohol.
Alcohol can interact with many medicines, including over-the-counter and herbal medicines. Whenever you start a new medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist whether you can drink alcohol with it. If cutting back is hard, talk to your GP, or call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 for free and confidential advice.
Where Medical Treatment Fits
For people living with obesity, treatment may include a low-kilojoule (low-calorie) diet, more physical activity, weight loss medication or bariatric surgery (healthdirect). Weight loss medication is used while reducing kilojoule intake and increasing physical activity, not in place of them. It has side effects and can be harmful for some people.
Whether any treatment suits you is a decision for a doctor or nurse practitioner after an individual assessment, and outcomes vary between individuals. To learn more, see how medical weight loss programs work.
Lighter drinks cut kilojoules, and where your weight still sits in the overweight range after changes to drinking, Burst Health provides medical weight loss plans online, reviewed by an Australian-registered doctor or nurse practitioner: check whether you are eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a 0 calorie alcohol?
No. Every drink that contains alcohol contains kilojoules, because alcohol itself carries energy, and soda water or a diet mixer does not take that energy away. Only alcohol-free drinks can have no kilojoules, and water has none. If you choose a low-alcohol or no-alcohol beer, wine or spirit, check its label.
Can I still drink alcohol if I'm trying to lose weight?
It depends on what, how much and how often you drink. Drinking less alcohol may result in weight loss, but many factors play a part. Alcohol adds kilojoules, can make you feel hungrier and can lead to cravings for salty and greasy foods. Counting standard drinks, choosing smaller or lighter serves, using mixers with no kilojoules and having alcohol-free days all cut kilojoules. Results vary between individuals.
Does any alcohol burn belly fat?
No. No drink burns fat, and you cannot choose where on the body you lose weight. Belly fat can reduce with overall weight loss from a healthy diet and regular physical activity, and drinking less alcohol cuts kilojoules that would otherwise add to the energy balance. Results vary between individuals. See our guide on how to lose belly fat.
What has more calories, wine or beer?
It depends on the serve. A 150 mL glass of white wine has about 450 kJ and a 375 mL can of full-strength beer about 570 kJ. Per standard drink, wine carries less energy, at about 300 kJ against about 410 kJ for full-strength beer, because beer also contains carbohydrate. These figures are arithmetic only, and brands differ.
What is a good drink to replace alcohol?
Water is the best choice for fluids, and it has no kilojoules. Soda water with fresh lime, berries in iced water, or a low-alcohol or no-alcohol beer, wine or spirit can also take the place of an alcoholic drink. If you choose kombucha, check that the sugar content is no more than 5 g per 100 mL.
Medical weight loss plans, online
In three steps.
- 1Answer a quick questionnaireOnline, no appointment, no in-person visit.
- 2A practitioner reviews itAn Australian-registered doctor or nurse practitioner decides whether treatment is suitable for you.
- 3Start your planIf treatment is suitable, you start your plan with the practitioner supporting you throughout.
References
Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Australian Food Composition Database, Release 3, data files.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Labelling of alcoholic beverages.
Better Health Channel (Victorian Government). Alcohol and weight gain.
Better Health Channel (Victorian Government). Alcohol facts.
Better Health Channel (Victorian Government). Weight loss: common myths.
University of Sydney. Spot reduction: why targeting weight loss to a specific area is a myth (2023).
Eat for Health (NHMRC). Australian dietary guidelines 1 to 5.
This article is general information only and does not replace individual medical advice. Please speak with a registered Australian healthcare practitioner about your own circumstances.