Can I drink alcohol on a low-carb diet?

Alchohol low carbDecember is here! Party season will soon be upon us. This is probably the hardest month of the year to stick to your diet.

Among many other temptations coming our way, it is certain that there will be plenty of drinking going on.

So can you indulge and still stay on your low-carb diet? The good news is, you can – as long as you exercise some basic caution.

Carb content of alcohol

Fermented drinks are derived from plants that are high in carbs – usually grapes or grains.

However, during the fermentation process, most of the sugar is consumed by the yeast bacteria in order to produce actual alcohol.

Some sugar may be left over, depending on the type of beverage. So alcohol itself does not get processed as carb by your body, and will not cause a spike in your blood sugar.

Calories in alcohol

However, alcohol is quite high in calories (7 calories per gram). These calories cannot be stored by your body in the way that excess calories from carbs or fat are.

If you have a drink while eating or snacking (which is what tends to happen), your body will first process the calories from alcohol, making it more likely that any excess calories from food will get stored as fat. This is why it’s hard to lose weight if you drink regularly.

Best drinks to have on a low-carb diet

Carb counts provided below are approximate, as there will be a lot of variance across the board depending on the brand.

  • Red wine is high in antioxidants and very low in sugars. It contains 3-5g of carbs per 5oz glass. Beware of fortified dessert wines such as port – these are quite high in carbs.
  • Dry white wines, including sparkling wines such as champagne are also a good choice, at 2-5g per 5oz glass. White wine contains fewer antioxidants than red wine.
  • Pure spirits such as vodka, brandy and whiskey contain zero carbs. The best way to have them is straight (if you are feeling hardcore), or mixed with water or soda water. Be very cautious about other types of mixers – coke and juices are laden with sugar, whereas diet versions usually contain aspartame, which is not recommended on some diets.

Worst drinks to have on a low-carb diet

  • Beer is basically liquid bread (this is very sad for me as I love beer). Carb content ranges from 12g to 30g per pint, depending on the brand.
  • Liqueurs such as amaretto, sambuca, campari and any other sweet-tasting liqueur are very high in carbs. They are often used in cocktails but it’s best to avoid them altogether.
  • Alcopops and premixed cocktails like Bacardi Breezer of Smirnoff Ice are basically sugary soda drinks with alcohol mixed in. Avoid!

Final word of caution

The main reason we like alcohol is because it makes us feel relaxed and happy.

This also means weakened self-control and inhibitions. The biggest danger of drinking on any diet is not just the consumption of alcohol in itself.

But once you are a bit inebriated, you might decide “Oh to hell with the diet!” and go on a massive binge. Try not to let that happen! If you do, just try to get back with the plan as soon as possible!


So to summarise – it is possible to enjoy a drink while on a low carb diet, but make sure you:

  • select beverages that are low in carbs such as dry wine or spirits
  • avoid cocktails and sugary mixers
  • do it on a one-off basis (otherwise you won’t lose any weight)
  • don’t get so drunk as to stop caring about your diet!


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15 comments on “Can I drink alcohol on a low-carb diet?

  1. I have found that while on any low-carb diet, drinking spirits (straight or mixed w/ sugar free- diet sodas or tonics) does not change the desired results. However, if you are still in induction, try to abstain from too many ounces of “even” spirits. Better off, the first week, stay alcohol free!

  2. Hi, im planning on having some vodka with diet mixer but i have a question. If the liver burns alcohol first then if i am still eating LCHF snacks does it turn to fat instead of being burned?


    1. Hi Paul, I am afraid there is no simple answer to this question. Our bodies are complex systems. Consumed food may turn into fuel for your body and get spent, or get converted to stored fat. This depends on many factors – what else have you eaten earlier on the same day, how much energy you have expended through movement and exercise, the exact composition and calorie value of your LCHF snacks and the amount you drink. Generally speaking, if you are usually in a calorie deficit and have a drink every now and again (maybe 1-2 times a month or so), then you probably don’t have to worry.

    1. Hi, dry wine is fine – as long as you don’t have a whole bottle to yourself! 1-2 glasses should be ok, at about 2-3g net carbs each.

  3. One thing to mention is that although beer has calories and so its not the wisest choice, folks are more likely to consumer hard liquor with sugar, as drinking straight liquor is potent and burns, hence the reason cocktails often have liquor rather than beer.

    One thing to also mention is that drinking straight liquor with some sugar on a low carb diet is probably better, because it can prevent a sugar low, although that is probably unlikely to happen or be serious in most circumstances. I agree to avoid pre-mixed amarettos and such where you don’t know or can’t control sugar.

      1. Hi Prudence, not sure if I understand your question fully. Mixing spirits with soft drinks is ok, as long as they are sugar-free diet versions. Standard soft-drinks are packed full of sugar.

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