'Tis the season to be jolly, and part of being jolly for many people involves having an alcoholic drink in one's hand.
We know alcohol isn't great for us (that's why, when January comes around, we're all desperate to detox the sh*t out of our systems). We know about the liquid calories we wish didn't lurk so sneakily in the bottom of our wine glasses. But what we often forget is how much sugar alcoholic drinks often contain. And I hate to state the obvious, but sugar isn't the healthiest kid on the block.
Exceeding the NHS-recommended 30g of sugar a day can lead to weight gain (excess sugar turns to fat pretty quickly), rotting teeth, fatigue and more. So, without trying to be the party-pooping Grinch around here, I thought it was time for a gentle reminder of just how much sugar your favourite festive tipples contain.
Obviously brand-to-brand will vary, but Drinkaware Ireland has rounded up the average level of sugar you can expect to find in various alcoholic beverages, so you can get a rough idea of just how sweet you'll be getting at your next Christmas party:
Glass of prosecco (150ml)
How much sugar? 2 grams, or half a teaspoon
Spirit and full fat soft drink (one 35ml shot)
How much sugar? 21 grams, or 4 teaspoons
Everyone's clicking on...
Pint of lager
How much sugar? 3 grams, or half a teaso
Large glass of of 12.5% ABV white wine (250ml)
How much sugar? 7.5 grams, or 1.5 teaspoons
Large glass of 12.5% ABV red wine (250ml)
How much sugar? 3.6 grams, or three-quarters of a teaspoon
Can of cider (500ml)
How much sugar? 21 grams, or 4 teaspoons
Alcopop (250ml)
How much sugar? 22 grams, or 4.5 teaspoons
Drink responsibly, folks.
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Cat is Cosmopolitan UK's features editor covering women's issues, health and current affairs. news, features and health. The route to her heart is a simple combination of pasta and cheese (somewhat ironic considering the whole health writing thing), and she finds it difficult to commit to TV series so currently has about 14 different ones on the go.
