How Many Calories Does Your Favourite Drink Have?

Thank god, it's Friday! Time to unwind, sit with friends, eat, drink and make merry. However much we love weekends, they do come with one drawback - they are a dampener on our diet plans. All that weekday control melts into weekend revelry. But before you order your drink from the bar tonight, why don't you spend a moment and think about the calories in that glass? Moderation is key and knowledge is power. Let us decode the calorific content of your favourite drink so that you know just what impact your drink is going to have on your diet plan.  Calorie Content of AlcoholAlcohol is produced when the sugars from fruits or cereals are fermented by yeasts. Alcoholic beverages can be broadly divided into three classes-beers, wines, and spirits. Calorie conscious?  Here is a guide to the calories in your glass:
 

BEVERAGE	SERVING SIZE (floz/ml)	ALCOHOL (g)	CALORIES (kcal)
BEER LIGHT	12floz/354.882ml	11	103
BEER REGULAR	12.03floz/356ml	13.9	153
WHISKY 100 proof	1.42floz/42ml	17.8	124
WHISKY 86 proof	1.01floz/30ml	10.8	75
VODKA 80 proof	1.01floz/30ml	10	69.3
RUM 80 proof	1.01/30ml	10	69.3
GIN 90 proof	1.01/30ml	11.37	78.9
WHITE WINE	4.05floz/120ml	12.36	98.4
RED WINE	4.05floz/120ml	12.72	102
WINE ROSE	4.05floz/120ml	11.8	102

Calorie Content of Chasers/ Mixers
But that’s only half the story. You may love chasing your drink with juice, tonic water or soft drinks. These add to the calories too.

BEVERAGE	SERVING SIZE (ml)	CALORIES (kcal)	SUGAR (g)
TONIC WATER	120ml	40.8	10.56
COLA REGULAR	120ml	50.4	12.72
COLA (low Cal)	120ml	0.48	0
ORANGE JUICE (tetra pack)	120ml	62.4	15.6

Responsible DrinkingResponsible drinking is not only about knowing that you shouldn't get behind the wheel after a few drinks. It is also about knowing certain things that you should keep in mind before an evening of drinks. Here are a few points to keep in mind:Eat: Food in the stomach delays and slows down the absorption of alcohol into the blood stream. Always munch on something while drinking or eat before you do so. Protein rich foods are specially recommended.Pace: Keep this mind - The liver digests only one standard drink per hour. Hold the drink.Drink strength: Higher alcohol content drinks irritate the stomach lining more.Medicine: If you are on any kind of medication, please check with your doctor before consuming alcohol, sometimes the reactions can be detrimental to your wellbeing.Physiological status of the body also determines the effect of alcohol. So if you are ill, you may be dehydrated and your liver may not be functioning optimally or if you are tired, the effect of alcohol may be magnified.
 
Alcohol is a diuretic - which means you urinate more, losing water and electrolytes. Stay well hydrated, drink water before you hit the bar, consume water between your drinks, and choose fruit and vegetable snacks. Choose fresh and low sodium juices for your cocktails, they will keep you hydrated. Being well hydrated also means no hangover. Win-win.Drink sensibly and be responsible for yourself and your family. You are precious!