Are you interested in minimizing weight gain, but still enjoying an occasional drink? You’ll definitely want to stick with low-carb alcohol.
It can get a little confusing, especially because labels aren’t required on many alcoholic drinks.
We’ve listed out the best low-carb alcohol choices, including beers, wines, and mixed drinks to help you stay slim and healthy…
First: What’s Up with Alcohol Labels?
Most spirit companies don’t list the nutrition information for their products on the bottle, or even on their website. They won’t even list calories and sugar.
The reason? The industry says that they are protecting their proprietary recipe, like Coca-Cola would.
But Coca-Cola, with it’s highly guarded formula has a Nutrition Information panel!
They also make this silly argument:
Putting a “nutrition” label on alcohol would deceive customers into believing alcohol is part of a nutritious diet.”
Mmmmkay… got that, kids?
How Can they Get Away with That?!
Most alcoholic beverages are overseen by the prohibition-era Tax and Trade Bureau, not the FDA.
Unlike the FDA, the TTB only requires voluntary labeling.
You might find a few alcoholic beverages with labels, especially if they are advertising themselves as low-carb alcohol. Some of those are the good guys, getting ahead of the day when in the not-so-distant future, labels will be required.
The rest are wines with less than 7% alcohol or beers that aren’t made with malted barley– the FDA is in charge of their labels.
Confusing, huh? That’s okay!
We Have the Facts
Without labels, how do we know which drinks are full of sugars and carbs and which are indeed low-carb alcohol? You don’t.
So we put together a handy little guide to help you navigate…
Low Carb Beer
Beer tastes great because of carbs, removing them can take away from the flavor and enjoyment.
With that in mind, here’s a sample of what some consider better-tasting choices:
- 2.4 g Miller Genuine Draft Light 64
- 3.1 g Budweiser Select
- 3.9 g Shock Top Honey Bourbon Cask Wheat
- 5.0 g Corona Light
- 6.8 g Heineken Premium Light Lager Beer
TIP: Drink lighter-hued brews for fewer carbs. Darker beers can pack a ton of heavy carbs.
Low Carb Wines
A simple rule is to drink drier wines. They are less sweet because there is less sugar left over in their fermentation process.
The following are some of the lowest carb wines (per 5 ounce serving):
Reds
- 3.4 g Pinot Noir
- 3.7 g Merlot
- 3. 8 g Cabernet
Whites
- 1.5 g Champagne
- 3.2 g Pinot Gris or Grigio
- 3. 7 g Chardonnay
- 5.5 g Riesling
TIP: One of my favorite things to do (especially on a warm evening) is to mix my wine with flavored sparkling waters and even a few ice cubes. This cuts down on the total amount of wine you consume, and prolongs the pleasure of savoring a glass.
Low-Carb Alcohol Spirits
Distilled spirits such as these have nothing in them but alcohol.
For the calorie counters, one 1.5-ounce shot is about 69 calories and zero carbs.
- Vodka
- Rum
- Gin
- Tequila
- Whiskey
- Scotch
- Brandy
Chasers and Mixers You Can Use
- Diet soda
- Soda water
- Diet tonic water
- Seltzer water
- Sparkling water
- Crystal Light
- Diet margarita mix
Here are 7 terrific recipes you can use as low-carb, low-calorie mixers; just add your choice of spirits from above.
The Most Fattening Drinks
It’s pretty safe to say that you should avoid the following if you want to maintain your goal weight…
- Beer
- Flavored alcohols
- Liquers
- Sweet cocktails
Why? Here’s how much sugar they pack…
- 13 g One can of beer
- 6 g One shot of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey (14% of the shot is pure sugar!)
- 11 g One shot of Fireball (25% of the shot is pure sugar!)
- 16 g One shot of Jagermeister (39% of the shot is pure sugar!)
- 14 g Gin or Vodka and tonic
- 26 g White Russian
- 30 g Mai Tai
- 44 g Long Island Iced Tea
- 56 g Margarita
- 90 g Pina Colada
Straight From Our Coaches
For those of you who are not at your goal weight, our Weight Loss Coaches wanted to chime in to say that if you want to lose weight it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether.
This is what they look like if you call, email, or chat about how little weight you have lost (but you have been drinking):
And then you say that it is no-carb, or low-carb…
…but it was “only juuuust a little!”
If you want to lose weight, ALL alcoholic beverages will stall weight loss.
CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED.
Now, for those of you who have reached your weight loss goals, and who would like to enjoy an occasional drink…Cheers!
Do you know a few secrets for enjoying an occasional drink while in maintenance? Share them with us in the comments below!
P.S. Did you know that even if you have not purchased a program from us that you can call in and talk with our Weight Loss Coaches? It’s true, they are always willing to help with your questions.
Call one today: 1-800-273-1686
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About the Writer: 100 pounds ago, Jan knew what it is like to be obese, unhappy, and stuck. She has spent the last 17 years as a fitness writer, trainer, yoga teacher, and Weight Loss Coach. Today, she’s proud to be a part of the Personal Trainer Food team so she can continue her goal to help others live their fullest lives possible. Email [email protected] if you have any questions!
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What about the beer Michelob Ultra. I thinking only has 2g carb per beer.
It looks like it has about 2.6 g, seems like a legit choice! Good one, Luc!
I couldn’t list all the lower carb beers out there, there are SO MANY– which is pretty awesome for those of us who watch carbs as part of our lifestyle. 🙂
So does that mean I can still enjoy couple of shots of my favorite whiskey with some diet coke every week when I am in the plan since it doesn’t have any sugar and only has 60 calories. so this will also affect my plan?
Hi Sam,
Like we said above: if you are trying to lose weight, NO ALCOHOL WHATSOEVER. (sorry!)
Your body simply does not burn fat if you are drinking booze. Wait until you reach your goal and then select these options for your maintenance plan.
Alcohol itself gets metabolizes in the body as sugar…so the answer is no if you’re trying to lose weight…
A small correction is necessary here, Jennifer… Alcohol does not turn into sugar. The calories from alcohol are stored as fat. The fact that your body is clearing a toxin means that the priority is to metabolize alcohol into fat. This suspends other things like burning body fat for energy. And that’s what makes you gain weight.
We researched and as someone mentioned Michelob Ultra was the lowest in carbs. That is what my husband drinks. I like a Bloody Mary and found Ziing Zang is one of the lowest in carbs. or Mr & Mrs T mix. We only have one no more than two drinks on weekends now that we are at our goal .
Hi Beverly!
That’s wonderful that you and your husband are at GOAL! Those sound like some great options to keep you there. I love that you have found that 1-2 drinks a week is a good lifestyle balance. Cheers!
I had already figured out vodka and diet tonic water was my best option. However, the problem is when I go out to listen to the blues, etc. I’ve thought of taking my own diet tonic water, but would that likely be allowed if you are willing to pay full price for the drink, even though you provided some of it? Is it even legal most places?
Hi Diane!
Hmmm, good question! I’m thinking that each state might have different rules about that?
You might ask your bar tender if they have any diet tonic water already? If they don’t, that’s when I would ask if they could order some in (especially if this is a place where you are a regular) or if you can bring your own in.
Over the years, I’ve learned not to be timid about asking for things like this. It’s a win-win– it might help them serve their lower-carb customers better in the long run! (:
does rum include dark rum, or just light?
Hi Vashti!
Both varieties have no carbs. Just avoid the flavored ones and you’ll be set!
Budselect 55 has 1.9 grams of carbs
Ah– very good to know for Budweiser fans! Thanks, Ed!
Here is some groundbreaking Liquor Industry news! Devotion Vodka, the only sugar free flavored vodka family has released their new bottles with the Nutritional Analysis label on the bottle. Besides from also being Gluten free as well, Devotion Vodka is the only only liquor company that broke through the old school barriers and feels the consumer deserves the right to know what they are drinking. This has not gone per well with industry giants For they feel that eventually it will be something that is required and for that they will lose billions ! read below :
http://beveragedynamics.com/2017/05/16/devotion-vodka-nutrition-labeling/
That’s really wonderful news, Andrew! We love companies who are committed to transparency and truth. Keep up the great work. (:
How can I find specifics for grape gin or peach gin, carbs?
Hi Mary, a quick search lead me to Seagram’s site where I took a look at their Nutritional Information. For their Grape Gin, it’s about 4g carbs per serving. For Peach Gin, it’s 3g carbs per serving. I hope that helps! Cheers!
What discipline you guys have.
Ok no more (than one a week) of donuts, 9 shots of tequila, 1 bagel a day. No wonder my weight sucks.
On the other hand- my cholesterol is low, my weight is high (251, 6′) my mood is stable and good.
My primary says she amazed how good my numbers are.
But I am a fan of you all who lives the right way.
Doc
most of the time i love to drinks low carb beers only because someone tell me that only beer contains low carb but here in this article i see that some other alcoholic drinks are also falls in the category of low carb drinks,!!!
So now i will try to taste all these low carb alcoholic drinks in my life and will try to experience all the drinks.!!!
Thank you for such a good list. !!!
How about captain Morgan?
Yes, Captain Morgan and other rums have 0 carbs so they are good choices if you are watching your weight but still want to enjoy a drink here and there. (:
I don’t have a gallbladder.. what kind of wine I can drank or I can’t drink period?
Dear Toni, your doctor is the best person to consult with concerning your dietary needs. I wish you well!
What about “No worries” mixers?
Serving size 4oz
No sugar added
Calories 5
Total fat 0
Cholesterol 0
Sodium 60
Total carbs 1
Sugars 1
Mixed with vodka and only two days a week
3 drink maximum a day
The mixers look good to me, Jennifer! 3 drinks x 2 days may be enough to stall most women on their weight loss journey. But if you must have a drink… (:
Decent article. I am 6′ 4″ and weigh 185. Great shape, lift (heavy) weight 3-4 times a week. Intense cardio 2-3 times a week (around 45 min).
If you want to ‘get lit’ still and are watching carbs, sugar etc….vodka/club soda is your go to drink (say vodka-soda, you’ll get it lol) I am a bit of a drinker myself (have cut back A LOT) and have lost 20-30lbs of bad weight while doing an exercise regime to burn fat, build muscle. Still a young guy I like to party etc. 26. Love my beer, just limit trying my heavy craft beers to once-twice a week, keeps the gut off. And don’t drink beer to get a significant buzz. Lol
If you have your shit together, drink some gin or vodka martinis, straight shots with a low calorie chaser etc. And be careful doing all of the above. Lol
LOL, that’s some practical advice there, Frankie. Thanks!