Short answer: 1 g of pure alcohol (ethanol) ≈ 7 kcal. More than protein or carbs (4 kcal/g) and less than fat (9 kcal/g). Alcohol isn't formally a macronutrient (it doesn't serve a nutritional function), but it is an energy source — and often an underestimated one in calorie tracking.
That's where "empty calories" comes from: alcohol delivers energy and nothing else. EU labels have been required to show energy value on alcoholic drinks since 2021, but many people still count only food. In BiteNote you can add beer, wine, or vodka as a manual log — and see the real contribution to your daily target.
| Drink | Alcohol (g) per typical serving | Energy from alcohol (kcal) | Total energy per serving (kcal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer 5%, 0.5 L (16.9 oz) | 19.7 | 138 | ~175 |
| Strong beer 7%, 0.5 L | 27.6 | 193 | ~245 |
| Dry wine 12%, 150 ml (5 oz) | 14.2 | 99 | ~120 |
| Vodka 40%, 40 ml shot | 12.6 | 88 | ~88 |
| Whiskey 40%, 30 ml shot | 9.5 | 66 | ~66 |
| Liqueur 25%, 50 ml | 9.9 | 69 | ~150 |
Ethanol (C₂H₆O) has a structure between carbs and fats. Less oxygen in the molecule than glucose, more than a fatty acid. Real combustion energy in a bomb calorimeter is 7.07 kcal/g. Digestibility is practically 100% — there's no "unabsorbed alcohol," everything goes to the liver. Atwater rounded to 7 kcal/g and that value has held for 100 years.
Alcohol TEF. Ethanol metabolism costs the body ~15–20% of its energy. From 100 kcal of alcohol you actually use ~80–85 kcal. The liver burns alcohol with priority — during that time other macros (mainly fat) are stored rather than burned. Hence the common observation: regular alcohol drinkers tend to gain abdominal fat even at moderate calorie intake.
Formula: grams of alcohol = volume (ml) × ABV × 0.789 / 100, where 0.789 g/ml is ethanol density.
Practical shortcuts:
For perspective: a weekend evening with 4 beers (0.5 L 5%) = ~700 kcal. That's like an extra dinner. That's why "I'm dieting all week, weekends off" often doesn't work.
📸 → BiteNote: Heineken 0.5L 5%, ~175 kcal (165–185). Alcohol ~19.7g = 138 kcal from ethanol. Confidence: high.
Manual log for vodka is fastest:
📸 → BiteNote: vodka 50ml 40%, ~110 kcal. Confidence: high.
Depends on strength. Light beer 5% (Heineken, Budweiser): ~175 kcal/0.5 L. Strong beer 6.5–7% (IPA, double IPA): ~220–245 kcal/0.5 L. Light beer 3.5%: ~110 kcal/0.5 L. About 80% of calories come from alcohol itself, the rest from residual sugars.
A standard glass is 150 ml (5 oz). Dry wine 12%: ~120 kcal. Off-dry wine 11%: ~135 kcal. Sweet dessert wine 14%: ~165 kcal. About 80% of calories come from alcohol, the rest from residual sugars (sweeter wine = more sugars).
Per drink — yes. Vodka 40 ml shot = ~88 kcal vs beer 0.5 L = ~175 kcal. Per gram of alcohol — identical 7 kcal/g. The difference comes from alcohol amount per serving: vodka shot (12.6 g alcohol) vs large beer (19.7 g) + sugars. Pure vodka has no carbs or fat — just calories from ethanol.
Lower than regular, but not zero. Non-alcoholic beer (0.0–0.5%) typically has ~25–45 kcal/0.5 L, almost all from residual carbs. Compare with regular 5% beer at ~175 kcal/0.5 L. The difference is significant, but not "free."
Yes, in a sense. The liver metabolizes alcohol with priority because there's no storage for it (unlike glycogen or fat). For 1–3 hours after drinking, the body runs on alcohol, and other macros (especially fat) go to storage. It's not "alcohol magically makes you fat" — it's just the order of fuel burning.
Because it doesn't serve a nutritional function. Protein builds tissue, carbs supply glucose to the brain, fat builds cell membranes and synthesizes hormones. Alcohol — nothing. It only provides energy. Hence "empty calories." Nutrition tables treat it separately, but count it the same way: 7 kcal/g.
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