Wines and spirits are the product of an age-old tradition, but they are not calorie-free!

“The art of good eating and drinking” in France – which was added to the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010 and France’s protected Cultural and Gastronomic Heritage in 2014, as “arts de vivre” – is one of life’s greatest pleasures; but it is important to appreciate both food and drink in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.
How? By taking note of a few calorie references, so that you can drink alcohol with an informed mind.
Follow our guide!

How many calories
in my drink?

For a single alcohol unit ( ? )		% vol.	Kcal +/-
red or rosé wine	~10cl	12	80
white wine (dry)	~10cl	12	80
sparkling wine (brut)	~10cl	12	80
spiritis	~3cl	40	70
anis with water	~2,5cl	45	73
AROMATIZED WINE PRODUCT	~9cl	14	117
fortified wines (Porto)	~8cl	19	118
cider	~25cl	5	102
Beer	~25cl	5	105

Calculating your intake Read More

The quantities indicated here are in single units of alcohol, the equivalent of 10 grams of ethanol.

However, the definition of a unit of alcohol and the volume contained in a glass served in a bar can vary according to country (for some countries there are official recommendations: 10 grams of ethanol in France, 8 grams of ethanol in the UK, 12 grams of ethanol in Scandinavian countries).

Calculating
my intake

To quickly calculate the calories
contained in a drink

Type of drink

Wines
- Red wine
- White wine
- rosé wine
- White wine (sweet)
- Sparkling wine (extra brut)
Spirits & Liqueurs
- Vodka
- Rum
- Whisky
- Anis
- Liqueur of fruits
Cocktails & Mix Drink
- Aromatized Wine
- Fortified Wine (Porto)
- White wine (still) - Blackcurrant
- Vodka-Orange
- Mojito
- Whisky-Cola
Softs drinks
- Pure Orange Juice
- Cola Soda
- light soda
- Energy Drink
Beers & Ciders
- Cider (sweet)
- Cider (dry)
- beer
- Stout/Ale
- Craft beer

Volume

précision

10 cl
12,5 cl
17,5 cl

Whisky

40% vol alc. / ~3cl

71Kcal

Calories
in this glass

1unit(s)

Alcohol units
in this glass

Key figures

Wines and spirits go through a complex production process,

and should be enjoyed in moderation.

The abuse of alcohol (wine, spirits, beer) is dangerous for your health.
Enjoy with moderation: but what does this mean?

What is a unit of alcohol?

10 grams of ethanol

The recommended unit of alcohol for any drink is generally 10 grams of ethanol, and the volume of the drink should be equivalent to a unit of alcohol.

Whishy 3cl at 40% vol.

Wine 10cl at 12% vol.

Beer 25cl at 5% vol.

Cider 25cl at 5% vol.

However, the definition of a unit of alcohol and the volume contained in a glass served in a bar or restaurant can vary according to country (so for some countries there are official recommendations: 10 grams of ethanol in France, 8 grams of ethanol in the UK, 12 grams of ethanol in Scandinavian countries).
Therefore, in order to calculate the number of grams of ethanol in a glass: 0.8 x vol. (ml) x % vol. /100

Key figures to retain for moderate alcohol intake *

Up to 2 standard drinks per day and not every day meaning
Up to 10 standard drinks per week

In the following situations, you should not drink any alcohol :

• Before the legal age (18 years in France),
• During pregnancy and while breastfeeding,
• When taking medication,
• When operating tools and machinery (handiwork, DIY…),
• In extreme sports,
• With some diseases.

These guidelines are not the same as the legal limit when driving

Alcohol consumption can be measured by checking your blood alcohol level . In France, it is against the law to drive with a blood alcohol level above or equal to 0.5 grams per litre of blood (or 0.2 grams if you hold a provisional license), in this context it wcould be better to abstain. A blood alcohol level of 0.5 means that the person has 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood in their body. For every unit of alcohol consumed (10g of ethanol), the blood alcohol level rises according to corpulence, body weight and the person’s health by approximately 0.10 g to 0.15 g per litre. Blood alcohol level generally drops by 0.2-0.1 grams per hour. If alcohol is consumed on an empty stomach, the blood alcohol level rises faster than when consumed during a meal.

* Drinking guidelines could vary from country to country. In France, Health authorities recommend the ones previously noted.

Did you know? The calories in a glass of wine or spirits come from the alcohol (which varies according to the alcohol content). There are also calories in the sugars present in the finished product, either in the raw materials used to produce the alcohol (sweet wines, fruit liqueurs) or added to the drink afterwards (for example, fizzy drinks or orange juice added to a cocktail).

Wines

For a single alcohol unit		% vol.	Kcal +/-
Red wine	~ 10cl	12	80
white wine	~ 10cl	11	78
rosé wine	~ 10cl	12	80
sweet wite wine	~ 7,5cl	17	103
sparkling wine (extra but)	~ 10cl	12	80

Spirits & Liqueurs

For a single alcohol unit		% vol.	Kcal +/-
Vodka	~ 3cl	37,5	71
Rum	~ 3cl	40	70
Whisky	~ 3cl	40	72
Anis	~ 2,5 cl	45	73
Liqueur of fruit	~ 6cl	20	144

Cocktails & mix drinks

For a single alcohol unit		% vol.	Kcal +/-
Aromatized wine product	~ 9cl	14	117
fortified wine (Porto)	~ 8cl	19	118
White wine (still) - blackcurrant	~ 12cl	11	108
Vodka-Orange	~ 3 cl of Vodka + 20cl of orange juice	37,5	161
Mojito	~ 3 cl de Rum + 3cl of green lemon + 6g of sugar and added sparkling water	40	100
Whisky-Cola	~ 3cl of whisky + 20 cl of cola	40	155

beers & ciders

For a single alcohol unit		% vol.	Kcal +/-
cider (sweet)	~ 50cl	2.5	136
Cider (dry)	~ 25cl	5	102
Beer	~ 25cl	5	105
Ale or Stout	~ 15,6cl	8	97
craft beer	~ 25cl	6	128

soft drinks

		% vol.	Kcal +/-
Orange juice (pure)	~ 25cl	--	109
Soda cola	~ 33cl	--	135
energy drinking	~ 35cl	--	167
Soda cola light	~ 33cl	--	4

To access at our webpage, please confirm you are above the legal drinking age in your country of residence.