Facts on Calories in Alcohol

Enjoying alcohol is possible -- and might even have beneficial effects -- as long as you drink moderately, which means no more than one serving daily for women and two servings for men, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Basic Calories

Each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories, according to McKinley Health Center. So the amount of alcohol calories in one drink is equivalent to the total grams of alcohol in the drink multiplied by 7. Mixed drinks have more total calories because the additional ingredients supply calories also.

Serving Sizes

Alcoholic drinks vary in alcohol content. Regular beer generally contains 4.5 percent, wine 12.9 percent and spirits 41.1 percent. Standard serving sizes of alcoholic drinks differ accordingly -- although one serving of each type typically contains about 14 g, or roughly 1/2 fluid oz. of alcohol equivalent to approximately 98 calories, according to "Alcohol Research & Health."

Calories Per Serving

Regular beer contains 12 oz. and 144 calories per serving, red wine 5 oz. and 105 calories per serving and 80-proof distilled spirits 1.5 oz. and 96 calories per serving, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publication "Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005." As with mixed drinks, some calories may come from other ingredients besides alcohol.