There’s no denying that our drinking habits have changed over the last years. Covid, lockdown, bubbles of six, no bubbles of six, kids at school, kids at home - it’s been a rollercoaster of years. So it’s little wonder that our alcohol consumption has been affected. Interestingly, however, it has not gone through the roof as predicted. In fact, quite the opposite. According to statista, 46% of people were drinking the same amount of alcoholic drinks as usual, while 9% of people said they had cut out alcohol completely during the great pause. Dig a little deeper, and many people claim that the reevaluation of their drinking habits has been driven by a holistic approach to well-being; the health benefits of lockdown have pushed us all to lose weight, take better care of ourselves and overhaul our lifestyles in a more positive way. But where does that leave us vis a vis our favourite evening aperitifs? Surely even the most die-hard dieter can find space for a G&T from time to time? If you have been worried about your calorie intake but still want to enjoy a Philharmonic, our handy guide is here to help.  After all, what’s life without a little sparkle? 

How many calories are there in a Gin and Tonic?

Short answer: anything from 97 calories to 120 for a single 25ml serving. 

Long answer… well, how much time have you got. Obviously, there are a few shades of grey here. Much of the calorie content in gin comes from the mixer, so look out for natural, neutral mixers, rather than soft drinks such as ginger beer (which will push your drink up to a mammoth 235 calories). While there is not much difference between a measure of Thomas Dakin and a shot of Bloom (think around 60-ish calories for a single shot), these figures (along with your figure) can almost double if you don’t pay attention. Remember that craft gins often come with a high ABV (alcohol by volume) ergo can be higher in calories. See below.

Bottom line? Yes, your G&T is a waistline friendly option, but make sure you favour high quality gins. Choose those that are laden with tastes of juniper berries and botanical favours rather than synthetic gins that need spicing up with surgery drinks. We suggest looking for tonic water mixers such as Fever Tree or Fentimans that will enhance, rather than mask, the taste of your gin.

How many calories in a gin and slimline tonic?

Well done for thinking outside the box. With a shocking seven calories per gram, alcohol is second only to fat (which is an even scarier nine calories per gram) when it comes to calorie density. The good news is if you’re calorie counting, a lighter version is available. There are some fantastic light tonics on the market which will bring your calorie intake right down to anything between 60 and 100 calories, depending on what mixer you choose. Try and stick to a 37.5 abv gin if possible. 

How many calories are there in a shot of gin?

Again, this can vary greatly according to the booze base. Opihr gin is one of the lowest calorie gins on the market at around 50 calories per 25 ml serving. This figure can almost double for sweeter gins such as Sloe Gin (83 calories) or Old Toms (98 calories). Even if this seems high, it is still small potatoes compared to beer or cider, which average around 215 calories a pint. If we say that that is the equivalent of a slice of pizza or a Cadbury’s Wispa bar does that put it into perspective? Yes, we thought so. 

And while we’re at it, we just thought we’d let you know that a glass of wine can be anything from 80 to 150 calories (red being the lowest in calories, then white with rosé at the top of the leaderboard) per glass according to NHS figures. Suddenly your G&T doesn't seem quite as sinful as before. 

How many calories in pink gin?

Despite it looking (not to mention tasting) like it would be higher in calories, pink gin has roughly the same calorie content as clear gin. The pink colour comes from natural flavours such as strawberries, raspberries or red fruits rather than any added sugars or artificial colourings. Add a slimline mixer, pop some fruit on the top and hey presto - diet friendly, Instagram gold. 

How many units in a Gin and Tonic?

Ah, now this is a tricky one. With gin clubs popping up everywhere from Paris to Penzance, the rise of craft gin has been stratospheric. And he who says craft gin, says 40 - not 37.5% - ABV. A “normal” (aka 37.5 ABV) 25ml serving of gin is 0.9 units, while a 40% G&T is higher at 1.0 units. This 0.1% increase might not seem like much, but if you were to devote your weekly allotted 14 units to just gin based drinks, you would be able to have almost an extra glass and a half if you stuck to the standard stuff.

It goes without saying that navy strength gin - a whopping 57% ABV - is almost out of the question. A 25ml serving of seaman’s folly is 1.42 units. Now if that doesn’t put hairs on your chest, we don’t know what will. 

So, there you have it - in terms of a healthyish alcoholic treat, gin is a hands-down winner. It’s delicious, it’s (relatively) healthy and it’s (fairly) low in calories. And since you’re in the mood, why not check out our gin cocktail recipes and add a little bit of ooh la la to your lockdown evenings in? Go on, you know it makes sense…