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How Many Calories Are In That Drink?

September 22, 2015
Photo: Randy Mayor
Alcohol can be a part of a healthy diet. Here’s how to choose wisely, and know where the calories hide. By: Sidney Fry
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How Many Calories Are in That Drink?

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Ultra Light Beer

Photo: Tomch/iStockphoto

64 calories

(2.5% alcohol)

Low cal but low alcohol. If you are looking to take the edge off, it might take a few of these.

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Wine Spritzer

Photo: Laartist/iStockphoto

72 calories

(3 ounces club soda, 3 ounces wine)

A smart, delicate sip for moderate drinking.

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Champagne

Photo: Randy Mayor

85 calories

(4 ounces)

Bubbles make for a lighter and brighter sip. Flutes are smaller than wineglasses, so you'll be less likely to overpour.

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Scotch on the Rocks

Photo: Randy Mayor

96 calories

(1.5 ounces)

Clean, simple, stiff. No mixer here—which is where a lot of calories hide.

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Light Beer

Photo: Bart Sadowski/iStockphoto

110 calories

(4% alcohol)

Although there's no governmental standard for "light" beer, calories must be listed to make the claim. Most have 100 to 120.

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Gin & Tonic

Photo: Randy Mayor

120 calories

(2 ounces tonic, 1.5 ounces gin)

Tonic is no different from a soda—a teaspoon of sugar in about 2 ounces. Same as bourbon and cola.

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Wine

Photo: Randy Mayor

125 calories

(5 ounces)

Equal calories for red, white, and rosé.

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American Lager

Photo: Bluestocking/iStockphoto

150 calories

(12 ounces, 5% alcohol)

Calories come from alcohol (7 per gram) and carbs (4 per gram). A higher alcohol content = more calories.

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Vodka Martini

Photo: Eddieberman/iStockphoto

210 calories

(3 ounces vodka, ½ ounce vermouth)

Martini glasses may hold 5 to 6 ounces. Making it dirty adds 450mg sodium per ½ ounce olive juice.

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White Russian

Photo: Alphacell/iStockphoto

222 calories

(2 ounces vodka, 1 ounce coffee liqueur, 1 ounce half-and-half)

The liqueur has 12g of sugar per ounce—the amount in about a tablespoon.

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Sangria

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Sparkling Sangria

260 calories

(8 ounces)

When wine meets brandy, juice, fruit, and sugar, calories add up.

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Margarita

Photo: Randy Mayor

273 calories

(the frozen 8-ounce happy hour pour)

More than 50% of these lime-coated calories come from sugar.

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High-Gravity Beer

Photo: Randy Mayor

291 calories

(16 ounces)

Higher alcohol (8% to 10%) means more calories. Be aware that pints are 16 ounces, not 12, like the typical can or bottle.

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Piña Colada

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Piña Colada

425 calories

(12 ounces frozen)

Rich cream of coconut adds 8g sat fat, while rum and sugar-filled juice spike calories.

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