Drinks are the silent calorie contributors in your diet. A beer here, a glass of wine there, a cola in between — it seems harmless, but it adds up quickly. Beverages can account for a significant portion of daily calorie intake without most people realising it.
This article provides a complete overview of the calories in the most popular drinks — from beer and wine to soft drinks and juices. So you know exactly what you are drinking.
Key takeaways
- A standard glass of lager (250ml) contains about 100 calories; three beers in an evening already adds up to 300 calories.
- A glass of red wine (150ml) contains around 106 calories — comparable to a glass of beer.
- Soft drinks contain 70-105 calories per 250ml; zero-sugar versions contain virtually no calories (1-3 kcal).
- Fruit juice contains as many calories as soft drinks, but also provides vitamins.
- Alcohol delivers 7 kcal per gram — almost as much as fat — and may also increase appetite.
- Water, black coffee, and tea are the lowest-calorie options.
Calories in beer
Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the Netherlands. But how many calories does a beer actually contain?
| Beer type | Serving | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Lager (standard) | Small glass (200ml) | ~80 kcal |
| Lager | Medium glass (250ml) | ~100 kcal |
| Lager | Bottle (300ml) | ~120 kcal |
| Lager | Pint (500ml) | ~200 kcal |
| Wheat beer | Glass (300ml) | ~145 kcal |
| IPA / craft beer | Glass (300ml) | 160-200 kcal |
| Double / Triple | Glass (300ml) | 180-250 kcal |
| Alcohol-free (0.0%) | Bottle (300ml) | 45-75 kcal |
| Radler | Bottle (300ml) | ~110 kcal |
A standard medium glass of lager (250ml) contains around 100 calories. That sounds modest — but three beers in an evening is already 300 calories, comparable to a full meal.
Alcohol-free beer is a smarter choice if you are watching calories: 45-75 kcal per bottle. That is 40-60% less than regular beer, because alcohol (7 kcal per gram) is largely absent. According to Voedingscentrum's NEVO database, a glass of beer (200g) contains an average of 88 kcal with alcohol and 52 kcal without.
Calories in wine
Wine contains more calories per millilitre than beer, but a standard glass is smaller — so the per-serving difference is smaller than you might expect.
| Wine type | Serving | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Red wine | Standard glass (150ml) | ~106 kcal |
| Red wine | Small glass (125ml) | ~88 kcal |
| Dry white wine | Standard glass (150ml) | ~100 kcal |
| Sweet white wine | Standard glass (150ml) | ~120 kcal |
| Rosé | Standard glass (150ml) | ~105 kcal |
| Prosecco / cava | Glass (125ml) | ~80 kcal |
| Champagne | Glass (125ml) | ~85 kcal |
Per 100ml, wine contains 65-80 kcal — nearly double the calorie density of beer (40 kcal per 100ml). But since the standard serving is smaller, the per-glass calorie counts are similar. According to the NEVO database, a 150g glass of red wine contains around 123 kcal, and dry white wine around 100 kcal.
Dry wine contains fewer calories than sweet wine — the difference lies in residual sugar. A dry white wine contains 1-4 grams of sugar per litre; a sweet wine contains 20-50 grams.
A full bottle of wine (750ml) contains 500-600 calories — the equivalent of a complete meal.
Calories in soft drinks
Soft drinks are one of the biggest sources of empty calories — sugar without nutritional value.
| Drink | Serving (250ml) | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cola (Coca-Cola) | 250ml | ~105 kcal | 27g |
| Fanta | 250ml | ~100 kcal | 25g |
| Sprite | 250ml | ~90 kcal | 23g |
| Iced tea | 250ml | ~70 kcal | 18g |
| Tonic water | 250ml | ~85 kcal | 22g |
Light and zero-sugar variants
| Drink | Serving (250ml) | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola Zero | 250ml | ~1 kcal |
| Pepsi Max | 250ml | ~1 kcal |
| Fanta Zero | 250ml | ~3 kcal |
| Sprite Zero | 250ml | ~2 kcal |
Light and zero-sugar drinks contain virtually no calories. They use sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, stevia) instead of sugar. For calorie savings, they are effective — switching one regular cola per day to a zero version can represent a significant annual calorie reduction.
Calories in juice and smoothies
Fruit juices are often perceived as healthy, but in terms of calories, they are comparable to soft drinks:
| Drink | Serving (250ml) | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange juice (fresh) | 250ml | ~110 kcal | 25g |
| Apple juice | 250ml | ~115 kcal | 28g |
| Tomato juice | 250ml | ~45 kcal | 9g |
| Fruit smoothie | 250ml | 130-160 kcal | 30-35g |
| Vegetable juice | 250ml | 40-55 kcal | 8-12g |
A glass of orange juice contains a similar number of calories to a glass of cola — the difference is that juice also provides vitamins. For your calorie intake, the two are broadly equivalent.
Tomato juice and vegetable juice are the lightest options if you want to drink something other than water.
Calories in coffee and tea
Black coffee and tea are virtually calorie-free. But additions change that quickly:
| Drink | Serving | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Black coffee | Cup (150ml) | ~2 kcal |
| Coffee with semi-skimmed milk | Cup (150ml) | ~15 kcal |
| Cappuccino | Standard (200ml) | ~75 kcal |
| Latte macchiato | Large (300ml) | ~130 kcal |
| Iced coffee (coffee shop) | Large (400ml) | 200-350 kcal |
| Tea (plain) | Cup (200ml) | ~1 kcal |
| Hot chocolate | Mug (250ml) | ~170 kcal |
Three cappuccinos per day can add up to 225 calories — comparable to a sandwich with cheese. And a large iced coffee from a coffee shop can reach 350 calories: almost a full meal.
Lowest-calorie drinks
Looking for drinks with minimal calories? Here are the best options:
- Water — 0 kcal
- Tea (plain) — 1 kcal
- Black coffee — 2 kcal
- Cola Zero / Pepsi Max — 1 kcal
- Sparkling water with lemon — 3 kcal
- Fanta/Sprite Zero — 2-3 kcal
- Coffee with a splash of milk — 15 kcal
- Tomato juice — 45 kcal per glass
- Alcohol-free beer (0.0%) — 45-75 kcal per bottle
- Prosecco — ~80 kcal per glass
Alcohol and weight loss: the invisible obstacle
Alcohol delivers 7 kcal per gram — almost as much as fat (9 kcal per gram). But the problem goes beyond the calorie count:
Your liver prioritises alcohol breakdown. When you drink, your liver focuses on metabolising the alcohol. Fat burning may slow down temporarily. This effect can last for hours.
Alcohol may increase appetite. According to Voedingscentrum, alcohol can stimulate appetite in the short term, which may lead to a higher overall calorie intake. After a few drinks, the barrier to reaching for a snack tends to drop.
The combination multiplies quickly. Three beers (300 kcal) plus a portion of bar snacks (350 kcal) is 650 calories — roughly a third of most people's daily needs in a single evening.
Want to lose weight while still drinking occasionally? Choose alcohol-free beer, dry wine instead of sweet, or a spirit with a zero-sugar mixer. And track what you drink — beverages are easily overlooked in food logging.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in a beer? A standard medium glass of lager (250ml) contains around 100 calories. A bottle (300ml) contains around 120 calories. IPAs and craft beers range higher: 160-250 calories per glass.
How many calories are in a glass of wine? A standard glass of red wine (150ml) contains around 106 calories. Dry white wine sits at about 100 calories; sweet white wine at around 120 calories per glass.
Does cola zero really have no calories? Virtually none — around 1 kcal per 250ml. Cola Zero uses sweeteners instead of sugar. For calorie reduction, it is an effective substitute for regular cola (around 105 kcal per glass).
How many calories does alcohol-free beer have? Alcohol-free beer (0.0%) contains 45-75 kcal per 300ml bottle. That is 40-60% less than regular lager, because alcohol (7 kcal per gram) is absent.
Which drinks have the fewest calories? Water (0 kcal), black coffee (2 kcal), and tea (1 kcal) are the clear leaders. Among soft drinks, zero-sugar variants are lightest (1-3 kcal). Among alcoholic drinks, prosecco wins at around 80 kcal per glass.
Want to track exactly how many calories you drink? Moveno lets you log not just food but also drinks — scan a barcode or search by product name and see the nutrition values instantly, based on the NEVO database. Also check our comparison of the best food tracking apps to find the right tool for your goals.
Sources
- Voedingscentrum — Alcohol (beer, wine and spirits) — calories in alcohol, appetite effects, 7 kcal per gram
- Voedingscentrum — Calories in alcohol-free beer — NEVO values for alcohol-free beer
- Voedingscentrum — Calories in red wine — NEVO values for red wine per serving
- Voedingscentrum — Calories in dry white wine — NEVO values for dry white wine per serving
