Of Interest:  Cool Tool: Which Alcohol has the most Calories- Beer, Wine, or the Hard Stuff?

If you are like many Americans, you may have an occasional glass of wine with dinner or before bed.  Or, like others, you may drink moderate amounts of alcohol on a more regular basis. This means one drink a day for women or people over 65 or two drinks a day for men.

Drinking moderately is not usually associated with health risks, and alcohol may even help prevent certain forms of heart disease, but alcoholic drinks still contain calories, which matter if you are trying to maintain or lose weight. Many Americans consume food and drinks throughout the day that they do not always consider as part of their daily caloric intake.

In terms of alcohol content, a standard drink of one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler is generally equal to one 5-ounce glass of wine and equal to a 1.5 ounce shot of liquor. Calorie content, however, varies by the type of drink.

• Use the Alcohol Calorie Calculator available at The National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) to determine how many calories you consume in a week, a month, and a year from alcoholic beverages. 
• If you decide that occasional or moderate drinking is sabotaging your weight loss or maintenance goals, try using these tips for how to cut down on your drinking. 
• You can also visit NIAAA to learn more about alcohol research and health and how alcohol affects your metabolism.

Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and can harm the liver, brain, and heart. Even moderate drinking, under certain circumstances, can be risky. If you drink at more than moderate levels, you may be putting yourself at risk for serious problems with your health as well as problems with family, friends, and coworkers.