Calories In Holiday Alcohol Beverages Add Up | The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC

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It’s a celebratory time of year. There are parties to attend and family get-togethers, all of which toast to, and celebrate, the past year and the year to come. The holidays are in full swing, complete with specialty beers, champagne bubbles and cocktails that will warm you from your head to your toes.

Knock back one, two, or even three drinks, though, and you’ll start to feel really good those liquid calories add up. Alcohol has 7 calories per gram versus carbohydrates (sugar) which have 4 calories per gram. To celebrate Santa or ring in the New Year without blowing your healthy eating habits (and without a hangover), here is a list of calories across a variety of drinks.

Bubbles and foam anyone? Beer generally has between 100 and 300 calories per 12 ounces. The rule of thumb is typically the lighter the beer, the fewer the calories. However, if you live in a brewery mecca, like yours truly, you might opt for a richer, full-flavored microbrew which can have more calories per pint.

Hard cider breweries, or cideries, are popping up all over the place. Hard cider can be made with a wide range of fruit, the most common being apple. This gluten-free beer alternative is a flavorful bubbly beverage for the holidays. Hard cider can range from sweet to bone dry depending on how it’s produced. While the calories can be similar to that of beer, the sugar content may be quite a bit higher, depending on the beverage.

Wine is probably the most common celebratory drink of choice during the holidays. Paired with hors d’oeuvres, holiday ham or crab legs, the spectrum of potential wines is endless. It can be harder to nail the calorie count on a glass of wine; it varies due to alcohol content, inherent sweetness of the wine and serving size. According to Wine Folly, dry wines are commonly considered to range from around 11 percent alcohol to around 14 percent. However, a quick check of alcohol percentages of wines at the grocery store shows that many dry wines often exceed 15 percent. A standard 6 ounce glass of dry wine with 15 percent alcohol has 175 calories. A standard 2 ounce glass of port or fortified wine can have around 103 calories, and a 5 ounce glass of champagne can range from 120 to 175 calories.

Distilled spirits also have a wide range from under 100 calories per 1.5 ounce serving of 80-proof liquor, to just under 200 calories for a liqueur (Amaretto, Gran Marnier, etc.).

As mixers, juices, or additional ingredients are added for cocktails, that calorie count can shoot up even more.

Although the holiday season is a time for celebration and enjoyment, be mindful of your beverage of choice. Alcohol should only be consumed if you’re 21 years of age or older. Just with most things, holiday beverages should be enjoyed in moderation.

Unless you’re Santa….why do you think he’s so jolly?

Graphic courtesy of Pinterest

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