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Short answer
With this calculator's presets, light beer (12 oz, 4.2%) is about 106 kcal and regular beer (12 oz, 5%) about 150 kcal. The 44 kcal saving per drink is about 11,000 kcal over a year at 5 beers a week.
1. Side by side
| Regular beer | Light beer | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 12 oz | 12 oz |
| ABV | 5% | 4.2% |
| Alcohol kcal | 98 | 82 |
| Carb kcal | 52 | 24 |
| Total | 150 | 106 |
2. What the saving adds up to
- 44 kcal per drink.
- 220 kcal a week at 5 beers.
- About 11,400 kcal a year.
Most of the saving comes from carbs (28 kcal) and the rest from lower strength (16 kcal). Drinking an extra beer wipes it out.
Check your own brand with the Alcohol Calories Calculator. More drinks in the per-serving chart.
3. Frequently asked questions
How many calories does light beer save?expand_more
About 44 kcal per 12 oz drink with this calculator's presets: 106 against 150 kcal.
Is light beer lower in alcohol?expand_more
Usually. The preset light beer is 4.2% ABV against 5% for regular, which saves about 16 kcal of alcohol calories.
Where does most of the saving come from?expand_more
Lower carbs: about 28 of the 44 kcal.
Do all light beers have the same calories?expand_more
No. Brands differ, so check the label and enter the carbs under Custom.