How to use it
- Enter the Volume of the drink in millilitres and its Strength as the percentage on the label.
- If the label gives sugar or carbohydrate, enter the grams in Sugar or carbohydrate. If it does not, leave the field empty.
- Read Calories in the drink, then the split between alcohol and sugar below it.
How the calories are counted
Alcohol gives 7 kilocalories per gram and carbohydrate gives 4. These are the general Atwater factors that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) lists for food energy. The page counts only alcohol and sugar or carbohydrate; it does not count fat or protein.
The grams of alcohol come from the volume and the strength. Pure alcohol is the volume times the strength, and grams use the NHS ratio of 8 g to every 10 ml, as on the standard drinks page. A 330 ml bottle at 5 % holds 16.5 ml of pure alcohol, which is 13.2 g.
This is an estimate, not medical advice. Energy needs differ from person to person. If you are managing your weight or a health condition, a doctor or dietitian can help you plan.
Grams of alcohol = volume (ml) × strength ÷ 100 × 0.8
Calories = grams of alcohol × 7 + grams of sugar × 4What the estimate leaves out
- Fat, protein and fibre in the drink, which this page does not calculate.
- Sugar that the label does not give. If the label gives an energy figure, use it instead.
- Food eaten with the drink, and how the body uses the energy.
Worked example: a 330 ml bottle at 5 % with 11 g of carbohydrate
Pure alcohol is 330 × 5 ÷ 100 = 16.5 ml, so the alcohol weighs 16.5 × 0.8 = 13.2 g. At 7 kilocalories per gram that is 92.4 kcal, shown as 92.
The 11 g of carbohydrate gives 11 × 4 = 44 kcal. The drink is about 136 kcal in total (92.4 + 44 = 136.4, shown as 136).
| Part | Value |
|---|---|
| Grams of alcohol | 13.2 g |
| Calories from alcohol | 92 |
| Calories from carbohydrate | 44 |
| Calories in the drink | 136 |
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in a 330 ml bottle of 5% beer?
The alcohol alone gives about 92 calories. If the label gives the grams of sugar or carbohydrate, add 4 calories for each gram to get the total.
Why does alcohol count as 7 calories per gram?
The FAO lists the general Atwater factors as 7.0 kilocalories per gram for alcohol and 4.0 for carbohydrate. The page uses those two factors and does not use a different value for each drink.
Why is my result different from the label?
A label figure is for that product, measured or calculated by its maker. This page uses the volume and strength you enter with general factors, so the label is more exact where it gives an energy figure.
Does the calculator include the calories of mixers?
No. Juice, soda and other mixers add calories that the page does not count, unless you enter their carbohydrate in the sugar field.
Is anything I enter sent to a server?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to us.
Sources
- FAO: Food energy, methods of analysis and conversion factors (section 3.5.1)
- NHS: Calculating alcohol units (for the 8 g per 10 ml ratio)
Figures and text last checked on Thursday, November 12, 2026.