Key Takeaways

  • Lowering alcohol calories can support weight loss without giving up drinks entirely.
  • Vodka soda and tequila with lime are light picks, roughly 100 to 135 calories each.
  • Diet mixers and club soda cut calories further — but keep alcohol intake moderate.

If you’re trying to lose weight, decreasing the number of calories you consume from alcohol can be very effective if you choose not to cut out alcohol completely.

In fact, many alcoholic beverages are loaded with calories and added sugar, both of which may contribute to obesity and other health problems in the long term.

However, while you should consume alcohol only in moderation as part of a balanced diet, there are many low calorie options you can enjoy without compromising your weight-loss plans.

Here are nine of the lowest calorie alcoholic drinks — along with some helpful variations of these drinks.

How we define low calorie

We define a low calorie meal as a meal with 500 calories or less per serving. If you’re looking for a low calorie snack, look for a snack with 250 calories or less per serving.

View our recipe collection for low calorie recipes to support your health goals.

A vodka soda is a classic drink made by combining vodka with unflavored club soda.

With just 133 calories in a one-drink (255-mL) serving, a vodka soda is one of the lowest-calorie mixed drinks you can order.

You can also add a bit of extra… Show more

With just 148 calories in one glass (180 mL), white wine can be a great option for cutting back on your calorie intake.

Plus, there are many different varieties to enjoy — from chardonnay to sauvignon blanc to a sweet riesling.

If you’re… Show more

Hard seltzer can be a refreshing, low calorie alternative to cocktails, beers, and mixed drinks.

Hard seltzer combines seltzer water with alcohol that is made from fermented cane sugar. It’s typically available in several fruity… Show more

Not only is tequila with lime one of the easiest drinks you can make, but it’s also very low in calories.

In fact, a shot (42 mL) of tequila with a lime wedge has only 99 calories in total.

If drinking tequila straight isn’t for you, you can try… Show more

Compared with regular beer, light beer often has fewer calories and a lower alcohol content.

This can make it a good choice if you like the taste of beer but are looking to lose weight.

Gin and tonic is a popular drink that is traditionally made by pouring gin and tonic water over a glass of ice.

However, you can easily decrease the calorie content of this classic cocktail by swapping regular tonic water for diet tonic water… Show more

A classic martini consists of gin and vermouth and is typically topped with olives or lemon wedges.

To decrease the number of calories, order a dry martini instead, which contains more gin and less vermouth.

A dry martini made with 2.5… Show more

The paloma is a refreshing drink made by serving tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit juice or soda over ice.

While most recipes also call for extra sugar, you can decrease the calorie count by skipping the sugar or using a calorie-free… Show more

Also known as a Cuba Libre, rum and Coke is a drink made by pairing white rum with Coca-Cola.

Switching out the regular Coca-Cola for Diet Coke is a simple solution that can help you cut calories.

You can easily decrease the calorie content of your favorite drinks in several ways.

For starters, be sure to make your drinks at home instead of buying premade mixers, which are often high in sugar and calories.

Instead of using high calorie sugars or syrups, you can enhance the flavor of your favorite drinks with fresh herbs such as:

Additionally, you can opt for low calorie or unsweetened varieties of add-ins like soda or tonic water, which are widely available and often contain few or no calories.

Finally, adjusting the ratio of your ingredients may be beneficial. Try using more ice, sparkling water, or seltzer and less soda or juice in your drink.

If you’re trying to lose weight, there are several alcoholic beverages that are low in calories.

To decrease the calorie content, you can also try making mixed drinks at home, choosing low cal or unsweetened mixers, using herbs to add extra flavor, and adjusting the ingredient ratio.

However, keep in mind that you should enjoy alcohol only in moderation as part of a well-rounded diet, regardless of whether you’re trying to lose weight.

Just one thing

Try this today: In addition to choosing alcoholic beverages that are low in calories, decreasing your intake of alcohol can support weight loss. Check out this article for more details on the link between alcohol and weight gain.