USDA reference / calories per pour
Lowest calorie alcohol, by the glass.
Among the pours compared here, plain 80-proof spirits have the fewest calories: 97 kcal per 1.5 fl oz. Next are light beer at 103 kcal per 12 fl oz, 86-proof spirits at 105 kcal per 1.5 fl oz, 90-proof spirits at 110 kcal per 1.5 fl oz, and sparkling wine at 113 kcal per 5 fl oz.
Compare common US serving sizes below. These are different amounts of alcohol; a lower calorie total does not mean an equal-strength drink. The alcohol column makes that difference visible.
Prepared by the KaloCam team · Updated · Sources and method
Lowest kcal alcohol: compare the listed portions
Spirits use 1.5 fl oz, beer and hard cider 12 fl oz, and wine 5 fl oz. Cocktails use the FNDDS recipe’s 1-drink portion, 225 g (7.5 fl oz). They may contain more alcohol than a plain shot. Filter by category; all results stay in calorie order.
15 drinks · Lowest to highest calories
| Drink / portion | Calories (kcal) | Carbs (g) | Alcohol (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirits, 80 proof1.5 fl oz · 42 gSR Legacy · FDC 174815 | Calories (kcal)97 | Carbs (g)0 | Alcohol (g)14 |
| Light beer12 fl oz · 354 gSR Legacy · FDC 168749 | Calories (kcal)103 | Carbs (g)5.8 | Alcohol (g)11 |
| Spirits, 86 proof1.5 fl oz · 42 gSR Legacy · FDC 171919 | Calories (kcal)105 | Carbs (g)0 | Alcohol (g)15.1 |
| Spirits, 90 proof1.5 fl oz · 42 gSR Legacy · FDC 171920 | Calories (kcal)110 | Carbs (g)0 | Alcohol (g)15.9 |
| Sparkling wine5 fl oz · 150 gFNDDS 2021–2023 · FDC 2710687 | Calories (kcal)113 | Carbs (g)3.5 | Alcohol (g)14.3 |
| White wine5 fl oz · 147 gSR Legacy · FDC 174837 | Calories (kcal)121 | Carbs (g)3.8 | Alcohol (g)15.1 |
| Spirits, 100 proof1.5 fl oz · 42 gSR Legacy · FDC 173664 | Calories (kcal)124 | Carbs (g)0 | Alcohol (g)17.9 |
| Red wine5 fl oz · 147 gSR Legacy · FDC 173190 | Calories (kcal)125 | Carbs (g)3.8 | Alcohol (g)15.6 |
| Vodka soda1 USDA drink (7.5 fl oz) · 225 gFNDDS 2021–2023 · FDC 2710664 | Calories (kcal)133 | Carbs (g)0 | Alcohol (g)19.1 |
| Mojito1 USDA drink (7.5 fl oz) · 225 gFNDDS 2021–2023 · FDC 2710644 | Calories (kcal)137 | Carbs (g)5.5 | Alcohol (g)17.1 |
| Regular beer12 fl oz · 356.4 gSR Legacy · FDC 168746 | Calories (kcal)153 | Carbs (g)12.7 | Alcohol (g)13.9 |
| Gin and tonic1 USDA drink (7.5 fl oz) · 225 gFNDDS 2021–2023 · FDC 2710633 | Calories (kcal)189 | Carbs (g)14.8 | Alcohol (g)19.1 |
| Hard cider12 fl oz · 360 gFNDDS 2021–2023 · FDC 2710621 | Calories (kcal)202 | Carbs (g)21.3 | Alcohol (g)14.4 |
| Margarita1 USDA drink (7.5 fl oz) · 225 gFNDDS 2021–2023 · FDC 2710638 | Calories (kcal)275 | Carbs (g)36.2 | Alcohol (g)18.4 |
| Piña colada1 USDA drink (7.5 fl oz) · 225 gFNDDS 2021–2023 · FDC 2710662 | Calories (kcal)340 | Carbs (g)43.9 | Alcohol (g)17.8 |
Alcohol with least calories: what changes the total?
Alcohol supplies about 7 kcal per gram: USDA’s energy handbook (printed page 7) describes the energy supplied by alcohol. Plain spirits have little or no carbohydrate, yet still contain calories from alcohol. In the USDA records, a 1.5 fl oz pour rises from 97 kcal at 80 proof to 124 kcal at 100 proof. Higher proof means more alcohol in the same volume.
Mixers matter too. The USDA vodka soda portion has 0 g carbohydrate, while gin and tonic has 14.8 g and margarita has 36.2 g in their listed recipe portions. Syrups, juice and sweetened mixers add carbohydrate calories; recipes and pour sizes change the result. The table does not attribute all cocktail calories to sugar: alcohol supplies energy too.
Explore the individual vodka portion guide, tequila portion guide, whiskey portion guide and gin and tonic recipe comparison. For a specific stout serving, see the stout portion guide. Individual pages may use different preparations or portions.
Best alcohol for weight loss?
No alcoholic drink helps you lose weight. A lower calorie choice simply contributes fewer calories in the portion compared. If comparing calorie friendly drinks, check the pour, alcohol strength and ingredients, including juice, syrup, sweetened soda and cream. This list compares food composition; it does not rank health benefits.
Calorie friendly drinks: check the ingredients
Compare like-sized pours and account for every mixer. A larger drink can erase the calorie difference between types of alcohol.
Is there alcohol without calories?
No. Drinks containing alcohol contain energy, even when they have no sugar or carbs. “Zero sugar” does not mean zero calories. Nonalcoholic drinks can also contain calories from other ingredients; no zero-calorie alcohol claim follows from these USDA records.
Sources and calculation method
All nutrient values use USDA FoodData Central: SR Legacy April 2018 full-precision CSV for plain spirits, beer and table wine; FNDDS 2021–2023 (October 2024 release) for sparkling wine, hard cider and cocktails. Each numeric table cell links to the exact FDC ID. These generic records are reference compositions; a specific recipe or product can differ.
Per pour = USDA nutrient per 100 g × listed serving weight ÷ 100. We use USDA’s 42 g spirit measures, 354 g light beer bottle, 147 g wine serving, 360 g cider bottle and 225 g cocktail drink. Regular beer uses 12 × USDA’s 29.7 g per fl oz; sparkling wine uses 5 × 30 g per fl oz.
Calories display as whole kcal. Grams display with at most one decimal, without trailing zeros. A displayed 0 g can be a rounded trace amount. Sorting uses unrounded calories, then FDC ID to break ties. The list compares the stated pours, not equal alcohol doses and not every possible alcoholic drink.