Calories in drinks

Often, when we think of calories, we only think of foods. But for many of us, a significant number of the calories we consume on an average day come from what we drink.

Alcoholic drinks, mixers, and milks and sweeteners added to teas and coffees are common sources of hidden extra calories.

These days, manufacturers produce low-calorie and low–sugar versions of most drinks, helping keep calories down and blood sugar levels more stable.

Let’s explore the best options to treat your taste buds while helping you crush your calorie goals.

• Drinks can add significant calories without keeping you full or providing nutrition
• Mixers for alcoholic drinks and milk choices added to coffee, tea, breakfast cereals and porridge often add more calories than the actual drink or ingredients
• Small swaps can make a big difference over time when done right

Calories in common alcoholic drinks

How many calories are in a pint of Guinness?

Guinness, the most common type of stout you’ll find on tap in Ireland, has around 210 calories in a pint.

However, this tends to range between 185 to 210 calories depending on how it’s poured and manufacturing variables.

Though it has a reputation for being heavy, surprisingly, stout typically has a comparable number of calories to other beers like lagers due to their similar alcohol content.

Which beer has the least calories?

The lowest calorie beers tend to be ‘light’ beers, which are lower in alcohol or alcohol free.

Popular low-calorie and low-alcohol beer choices include:

• Tennent’s Light (around 114 kcal per pint, 3.5% ABV)
• Lean Brew Lager (around 99 calories per 330ml can, 3.5% ABV)
• Skinny Brands Lager (around 76–89 calories per 330ml bottle, 3.4% ABV)

How many calories in a glass and bottle of red wine?

The exact number of calories in a glass or bottle of wine vary depending on the wine’s alcohol content (the higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories), volume, and type of wine.

So depending on whether you prefer a Rioja, a Malbec, or something a little lighter, the number of calories may be quite different from glass to glass.

On average, though, a typical 175ml glass of wine is likely to contain around 150 calories.

A typical bottle of red wine will clock in at around 606-684 calories on average.

How do red wine calories compare to white wine?

Red and white wine have similar calorie contents, though this varies between styles and where the wine comes from. There are also differences in nutrient contents between red and white wines.

Red wine is typically very slightly higher in calories than white wine, but contains more nutrients.

How many calories are in a shot of vodka? 

A typical shot of vodka has about 44–61 calories.

This makes vodka and other clear spirits a low-calorie and low-sugar option, making them a smart choice if you’re sticking to a weight loss treatment plan.

Most of the calories in vodka drinks come from mixers. To reduce these calories, you can try:

• Choosing low- or no-calorie mixers like Coke Zero or diet fizzy drinks
• Choosing a mixer that hydrates and adds nutrients, like coconut water, vegetable juice or kombucha
• Try making a white Russian with low-calorie unsweetened plant milk and a naturally low-calorie sweetener like liquid stevia

How many calories in a gin and tonic? 

Most gins have an alcohol content of around 40% ABV and have around 56-59 calories per 25ml shot. Like vodka, this makes gin a low-calorie and low-sugar option, with most calories coming from mixers.

Tonic is the classic mixer for gin, and this is where a lot of the calories in a G&T come from.

A single G&T with regular tonic contains around 120 calories, whereas a G&T with slimline tonic contains around 56 calories.

If you’re headed to the beach or the park for some summer drinks and bringing a can of pre-mixed gin and tonic with you, it’ll likely contain around 163 calories, as most pre-mixed gin drinks use regular tonic.

Are prosecco and champagne high in calories?

An average glass or flute of prosecco or champagne is around 12% ABV and roughly 120 calories, so it falls somewhere between clear spirits like vodka and regular-calorie beers.

Most sparkling wines have a comparable calorie count to still wines, as the carbonation process doesn’t add any calories.

Calories in everyday drinks

Calories in tea and coffee and how your choice of milk affects this

Most teas and coffees are among the lowest calorie drink options before adding milk, sugar, or other sweeteners.

Black tea and coffee typically have zero or close to zero calories, but adding one spoon of sugar will add around 32 calories.

A lot of people are surprised when they realise how many extra calories are coming from their drinks. It's not about cutting out everything you enjoy, but small swaps like switching to a lower-calorie mixer or choosing skimmed milk in your coffee can really add up over time. These are the kinds of simple changes that make a weight loss plan much easier to stick with.

Ayesha Bashir, myBMI weight loss expert

Your choice of milk or creamer can also add a significant number of calories. Below is a breakdown of the number of calories in different types of milks.

Whole milk

30 ml of whole milk will add around 19 calories to your hot drink.

This is fine if you’re an americano once-a-day person, but if you’re drinking three lattes a day with whole cow’s milk and sugar, you could be adding hundreds of calories to your diet daily without realising it.

Semi-skimmed milk

Semi-skimmed milk contains around 14 calories per 30ml, less than whole milk but more than skimmed milk and unsweetened plant milk alternatives.

Skimmed milk 

Skimmed milk contains around 10 calories per 30ml added to drinks.

Non-dairy milks

Instead of cow’s milk, you can try lower-calorie unsweetened plant milk options like: 

• Almond milk
• Coconut milk (the kind manufactured as a drink sold in cartons, not canned coconut milk for cooking, which is high-calorie and high-fat)
• Soy milk
• Hemp seed milk
• Cashew milk
• Hazelnut milk, which is nice and creamy for coffee!

Some nut milks also contain nutrients and electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, selenium, and manganese, which can help keep you energised and your brain healthy.

Using plant milks can also be a great alternative to cow’s milk for protein shakes, smoothies, baking, breakfast cereals, and anything you might choose to add a milk to.

Frequently asked questions

Which drinks are highest in calories?

Drinks that tend to be highest in calories include alcoholic and sugary drinks. In general, the more alcohol and the more sugar in a drink, the more calories it will contain.

Are alcohol calories different from food calories?

Yes; calories from alcohol are ‘empty calories’, meaning they provide no nutrition, whereas calories from food contain essential nutrients. Even in alcoholic drinks like red wine that do contain some nutrients such as antioxidants, these nutrients do not come from alcohol.

Do diet drinks help reduce calorie intake?

Yes, diet drinks can be a useful way to reduce calories for some people, but the sweeteners they contain can irritate the stomach and cause cravings for sweet sugary foods, so drink them in moderation.

Is cutting out drinks enough to lose weight?

This depends on your calorie goals and how many of your daily calories currently come from drinks. If you drank two sweetened lattes at 250 calories each a day, cutting these could slash 500 calories per day from your intake, which could help you lose weight.

Are non-dairy milks always lower in calories?

No, not always, so make sure to check the label. Many plant milks are sweetened with sugar, and some plant liquids, like coconut milk, are naturally high in fat and calories.

Sources

Red Wine. (2026) Drink Aware [Accessed 2 February 2026]

How Many Calories are in a Bottle of Red Wine? Drink Well UK [Accessed 2 February 2026]

Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte. Starbucks [Accessed 2 February 2026]