With Dry January in full swing, many people take a hard look at what they eat and drink. Alcohol often sits at the centre of that reset. It delivers calories with no nutritional return. That is what people mean by empty calories.
A gin and tonic remains one of the leanest choices behind the bar. A single 25 ml measure of gin contains around 50 calories. Add 200 ml of light tonic at about 30 calories and the drink stays under 100. A medium glass of wine comes in closer to 130 calories and a pint of lager often reaches 200 to 300. Swapping nine pints of lager a week for nine single G and Ts removes close to 900 empty calories. Over a year, that shift alone moves the dial on body weight.
Gin contains no sugar and no carbohydrates. Beer, cider, and wine all carry fermentable sugars that push blood glucose higher. Cider can deliver up to 40 grams of sugar per glass and lager around 10 to 15 grams of carbs per pint. Gin avoids that. Light tonic adds only a small sugar load compared with cola or lemonade.
Juniper brings vitamin C, flavonoids, and antioxidants. Fresh garnishes add more through citrus peel, berries, and herbs.
A long, well iced G and T also slows drinking and limits sugar driven cravings.
We list calories per shot across our spirits so people can make informed choices.
