Alcohol increases calorie intake 'by 75,000 a year for average drinker'

24 May 2023 , 23:01

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Research shows one in five people believe booze is the main cause of weight gain (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The average drinker is consuming more than 75,000 calories from alcohol a year.

New figures show we annually rack up roughly the equivalent of 1,000 cookies, 327 kebabs or 293 Big Macs by boozing.

Beer drinkers had the biggest intake, downing an average of nine pints a week that amount to an extra 111,852 calories a year, the research from low-calorie booze brand DrinkWell showed.

Drinking more than the recommended amount can lead to weight gain, which can put people at higher risk of conditions such as heart disease and fatty liver.

DrinkWell’s research found one in five people will drop alcohol first when they are on a mission to lose weight, believing it is the main cause of their girth gain.

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Beer drinkers have the biggest intake of calories (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

However, there remains a lack of clarity when it comes to people’s understanding of the calories alcohol contains.

Tom Bell, founder of DrinkWell, said: “For those who are concerned about the nutritional value in alcohol, there’s no need to cut out alcohol completely or search for lower alcoholic drinks.

“There are plenty of low-calorie, low-carb, zero-sugar and full-strength alcoholic drinks available on the market.

“The difficulty is that not a lot of people are aware of where they can access them.”

Natasha Wynarczyk