For many people, catching up with friends and toasting to the festive season is part and parcel of the countdown to Christmas. From a mug of mulled wine at a Christmas market to popping open the champagne on Christmas Eve, many social occasions in December can involve alcohol. There are countless reasons why you might want to avoid sugary drinks, but whatever that might be, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t consume any alcohol this Christmas. So, which are the lowest calorie drinks out there – and what alcoholic alternatives could you choose?
From weight loss to watching your sugar intake, with this guide, you can see which type of alcohol is most likely to suit you.
The following values are according to www.drinkaware.co.uk and are based on averages, therefore may vary between different drinks brands. Visit www.drinkaware.co.uk for more information.
Champagne – 1.5 units of alcohol per 125ml
It’s a favourite for some people when it comes to special occasions, and one serving of these bubbles contain around 89 calories.
Gin – 0.9 units of alcohol per 25ml
A popular choice and one the lowest types of alcohol out there, a 25ml serving of gin (37.5 per cent ABV) contains 97 calories.
Vodka – 1 unit of alcohol per 25ml
A relatively low calorie choice in terms of the list, a 40 per cent ABV measure of vodka contains less than 106 calories.
In order to reduce additional calories being added to the spirit, some people opt for slimline options or soda and fresh lime.
Wine – 2.3 units of alcohol per 175ml
For a bottle of wine with an ABV of 13 per cent, the average serving of a 175 ml glass of wine will contain 159 calories.
While a standard glass of wine may be one slimmers try to avoid at the Christmas parties, that’s not to say there aren’t alternatives which are similar to the beverage.
Estandon Diamarine Provence Rosé, for instance, has an ABV of 12.5 per cent, and contains fewer calories than an average glass of wine – boasting just 81 calories per serving.
Beer – 2.3 units of alcohol per 568ml
It’s fairly well-known that sipping a pint of beer at your local pub won’t work wonders for your waistline.
And, in fact, per pint of beer that you drink, you could consume 182 calories.
Cider – 2.6 units of alcohol per 568ml
Made from the fermented juice of apples, it may not be surprise that cider is a high-calorie choice.
A pint of this sugary drink contains 216 calories on average.
If you want to avoid a large consumption of alcohol, Stowford Press Low Alcohol has just an 0.5 per cent ABV – and it comes in at just 29 calories per 100ml.
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