ALCOHOL
WHAT IS A DRINK?
12 ounce beer,
5 ounce glass of wine, or
1.5 ounce jigger or shot of hard liquor (vodka, gin, rum, or tequila).
HOW MUCH TO DRINK?
The American Heart Association defines MODERATE DRINKING as
2 drinks per day for men,
1 drink per day for women.
In moderation, drinking can be included in a healthy diet. Red wine has been shown to have some heart health benefits but the evidence is not strong enough to encourage non-drinkers to start drinking alcohol.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines HEAVY DRINKING as
15 drinks or more per week for men,
8 drinks or more per week for women.
Heavy drinking puts people at risk for injury, assault, unprotected sex, and alcohol poisoning. Over time, heavy drinking increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, cancer, depression, anxiety, and alcohol dependence.
The CDC defines BINGE DRINKING as drinking in a 2-hour period
5 or more drinks for men,
4 or more drinks for women
On average, your body can process about 1 drink per hour.
HOW MANY CALORIES IN DRINKS?
Alcoholic beverages are considered empty calories and are not a significant source of vitamins or minerals. Drinking empty calories can lead to weight gain over time. Below are the calories for common beverages (to which you need to add the calories in mixers like cola):
12 oz bottle of beer–140 calories (13 grams of carbs)
12 oz light beer–110 calories (7 grams of carbs)
5 oz glass of wine–120 calories (4 grams of carbs)
1.5 oz liquor–100 calories (0 grams of carbs)
12 oz frozen drink (margarita, piña colada)–870 calories (102 grams of carbs)