Short answer
A regular 5% beer (12 oz) is about 150 kcal, light beer about 106, 5 oz of 12% wine about 114, a hard seltzer about 106 and a 1.5 oz spirit shot about 98. Alcohol supplies about 98 kcal of each standard drink.
1. Per-serving chart
| Drink | Serving | ABV | Alcohol kcal | Carb kcal | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular beer | 12 oz | 5% | 98 | 52 | 150 |
| Light beer | 12 oz | 4.2% | 82 | 24 | 106 |
| Wine | 5 oz | 12% | 98 | 16 | 114 |
| Hard seltzer | 12 oz | 5% | 98 | 8 | 106 |
| Spirits | 1.5 oz | 40% | 98 | 0 | 98 |
Carb values are typical figures from USDA FoodData Central used in the calculator; brands vary, so check the label.
2. What drives the total
- Alcohol: 7 kcal per gram of pure alcohol.
- Carbs and sugar: 4 kcal per gram, from the beer, wine or mixer.
- Strength: each extra 1% ABV adds about 20 kcal to a 12 oz drink and about 8 kcal to a 5 oz glass of wine.
Enter your own drink in the Alcohol Calories Calculator. To see how to do the math yourself, read how to calculate calories in alcohol.
3. Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in a glass of wine?expand_more
About 114 kcal for 5 oz of 12% wine in this calculator: 98 from alcohol and about 16 from carbs. Stronger or larger pours have more.
How many calories are in a beer?expand_more
About 150 kcal for a regular 12 oz, 5% beer and about 106 kcal for a light 4.2% beer.
Do spirits have fewer calories than beer?expand_more
A 1.5 oz shot has about 98 kcal and no carbs, but drinks mixed with soda or juice add the sugar calories.
Why does 'standard drink' matter?expand_more
A US standard drink has 14 g of pure alcohol, which is about 98 kcal from the alcohol alone.
4. Sources
- menu_bookNIAAA: What is a standard drink?