Alcohol calories calculator

Add a night out or a typical week and see the calories from the alcohol itself, alongside the units.

Your details

Pints of beer or cider
Beer strength
Medium glasses of wine (175 ml, 13%)
Single spirits (25 ml, 40%)
Mixers and sugar (optional)
This is
A lower strength beer to compare (optional)

Calories in your drinks

At least 382

kcal, from 6.8 units

  • From the alcohol itself382 kcal
  • Beer units6.8
  • Wine units0.0
  • Spirit units0.0
  • A usual week?choose "a usual week" to compare with the 14 unit guide and see a year
  • The same pints at 0.0%0.0 units, 6.8 fewer and about 382 kcal less from the alcohol

Alcohol has 7 kcal a gram, nearly as much as fat. Beer, cider, wine and mixers add sugar on top, so the real figure is usually higher.

The UK low risk guide is up to 14 units a week, spread over three or more days. Drinkline is free on 0300 123 1110.

The working

Units, then calories

Units = ml × ABV ÷ 1,000. One UK unit is 8 g of pure alcohol, and alcohol has about 7 kcal a gram, so each unit carries around 56 kcal before any sugar.

Three pints at 4% are 3 × 568 × 4 ÷ 1,000 = 6.8 units, or at least 382 kcal from the alcohol. Beer's carbohydrate adds more, often taking a pint to 180 to 200 kcal.

Typical drinks

Units and calories

DrinkUnitsKcal, roughly
Pint of 4% lager2.3180
Pint of 5% cider2.8215
175 ml glass of 13% wine2.3160
25 ml single of 40% spirit155 (plus mixer)
Bottle of 12% wine9560

Lower strength

Same pints, fewer units

Swapping strength changes more than you might think. Three pints at 4% are 6.8 units and 382 kcal from the alcohol; at 2.8% the same pints are 4.8 units, 2.0 units and about 115 kcal less. If that is a usual week, the one swap adds up to about 5,950 kcal less over a year.

The guide

The low risk limit

The UK Chief Medical Officers advise no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days, with several drink free days. That is about six pints of average lager or six medium glasses of wine. There is no completely safe level.

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

  • Exact sugarSweet wines, ciders and cocktails have much more.
  • FoodLate night snacks after drinking are not counted.
  • DependenceIf cutting down is hard, help is available.

Questions

Common questions

How many calories are in a pint of beer?

About 180 to 250 kcal, depending on strength. A 4% lager is around 180.

How many calories in a glass of wine?

A 175 ml glass of 13% wine is about 160 kcal; a 250 ml glass is about 230.

Which alcohol has the fewest calories?

A single spirit with a diet mixer, or a small glass of dry wine. Low and no alcohol drinks are lower still.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Worried about drinking?

Your GP can help, and Drinkline is free on 0300 123 1110.

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