Alcohol Caloric Content a Mystery to Many Drinkers

New survey results from the U.K. Department of Health suggest that many people aren’t aware of how many calories they consume while drinking alcohol, Medical News Today reported April 17.

The survey of 2,000 adults in the U.K. found that most respondents underestimated the caloric content of alcoholic beverages. For example, 42 percent of women surveyed said they didn’t know that the caloric content of a glass of white wine was equal to that of a bag of chips, and 40 percent of men didn’t know that a pint of lager beer has as many calories as a sausage roll.

The survey also found that almost 40 percent of drinkers said they were likely to eat more than usual or give up on a healthy diet when they drank more than the recommended daily limit.

Consuming two large glasses of white wine puts women above their recommended daily alcohol limit, experts noted, and adds up to about a fifth (370 calories) of what is recommended for a woman’s daily caloric intake.

“It’s not only the calories in the drinks themselves that can help to pile on the pounds; we’re also more likely to eat fatty foods when we’ve had one too many,” said U.K. Health Minister Phil Hope.  “To avoid piling on the pounds we should try to drink within the recommended limits, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.”