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An inevitable fact of University life is socialising, and with this comes drink, alcoholic or otherwise. The problem with this is the number of calories and high sugar content that many drinks contain, not to mention a whole host of chemicals. There is obviously a great difference in the amount of calories each drink contains so this week Lifesaver brings you the low down on the least and most calorific drinks in your favourite watering hole.
The idea for this column initially came from learning the myth that a pint of Guinness has the same amount of calories as a loaf of bread (which if the wholemeal bread in my breadbin is anything to go by would be about 1850 kcal) was a complete fabrication. A pint of Guinness actually contains 210 kcal, just a fraction of that mythical loaf of bread: more like a couple of slices. In reality Guinness has fewer calories than most other premium beers and lagers. At the top end of the scale Budweiser, of all varieties, has around 227 kcal as does Calsberg Export, other premium lagers contain about 350 kcal, but for the more extreme of you Carlsberg Special Brew has a grand total of 392 kcal. On the contrary your standard pint comes in under 200 kcal.
The reason for the high calorie content in premium beers and lagers is the high alcohol percentage. The alcohol accounts for 65-75% of the calorific content irrespective of the drink in question, meaning that spirits can contain six times the calories of beer and lager. The smaller servings of spirits though mean you can cut down your calorie intake by wisely choosing a mixer. If you’re a Vodka fan steer clear of coke or lemonade as this will give a normal serving (175ml) a calorie content of 120kcal, swapping this for a slim line tonic will more than halve the number of calories to 58 kcal and a soda and lime to 78 kcal.
For the wine lovers among you, there is little difference between them. Rose is a little bit more calorific but white and red remain on a par: the added health benefits red wine can bring (in moderation of course) make it the better option. A favourite of York clubs the VK Alcopop depending on flavour have about 160 – 220 kcal which is also the case for many other brands.
For the non-alcoholics, or those still recovering from last night the bad news is that many soft drinks actually have more calories than their alcoholic counterparts. One pint of orange juice contains 220 calories which is more than most pints of beer, as does a 7UP with 266 kcal and Coke. The supposed healthy option of Cranberry juice has a massive 333 kcal in one pint, equalling a sixth of a women’s recommended daily calorie intake.
Now you have the facts, maybe you’ll think of more than just the hangover when you have one for the road or just stick to water if it’s thirst that’s taking you to the bar. Obviously for orange and cranberry juice you should not be put off drinking them because of their calorie content, they both have far more important health benefits but do remember that moderation in all things is key.
As week four approaches I hope the steam powering your social fun train isn’t running out already and I see you all out calorie counting in the watering holes of York this week!
However it is unlikely that you would drink an entire pint of cranberry juice, pubs and bars serve it in much smaller measures, of roughly 1/4 pint, thus giving each serving 83 kcal, making it a low-calorie choice.
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