Hidden Sugar in Alcoholic Beverages You Love

The sugar content in beer or your favorite alcoholic beverage just may surprise you. Alcohol can be a significant source of calories and carbohydrates, but the content of sugar in alcohol is low in most types of these beverages. Even sugar-savvy consumers may find it difficult to determine the sugar content of alcoholic beverages because nutrition labeling done by alcohol manufacturers is voluntary. Furthermore, requirements for the nutrition label content include carbohydrate content, but not sugars, per the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The publication Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020, recommends moderation in drinking alcohol: no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. One drink is equal to a 12-ounce beer, 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

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The body's metabolism of sugar and carbohydrates when alcohol is present varies from the norm. Contrary to most food and beverages, alcohol has a lowering effect on blood sugars. Alcohol's metabolism in the body blocks the liver's release of blood sugar-regulating hormones. This can cause low blood sugars, or hypoglycemia, especially in individuals concerned with alcohol and diabetes, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

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The wine-making process of fermentation turns the sugar in grapes into ethanol and carbon dioxide. Encyclopedia Brittanica says most of the grape sugar is used up during this process, leaving wine with very little sugar content. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database for alcoholic beverages, red table wines have less than 1 gram of sugar per serving. White table wines have slightly more with 1.5 grams of sugar per serving. Red and white wines have a carbohydrate content of about 4 grams per serving. Because there are numerous varieties of wine, the sugar content can vary widely. Dessert wines, as an example, can have as many as 8 grams of sugar per serving. Sugar is added to these wines to create a sweet flavor.

The sugar content in beer is lower than in wine or liquor, but beer has a higher carbohydrate content per serving. Regular beer has 12 grams of carbohydrate per serving, but zero grams of sugar. Light beer has less carbohydrates, with approximately 6 grams of carbohydrate per serving and less than half a gram of sugar, so may be a better choice for a healthier beer.

The alcoholic content of distilled liquor is higher than that of beer or wine. Carbohydrate-conscious consumers might prefer distilled liquor (gin, rum, vodka) because there are no carbohydrates or sugar per serving. This is true regardless of the alcohol proof. The sugar content of the fruit and grains used to make liquor is lost during the distillation process. Liqueurs have much higher sugar content than liquor, many containing at least 10 grams of sugar per ounce. Liqueurs are made by infusing the flavors of fruits and spices into liquor, then adding sugar says Encyclopedia Britannica.

Grams of sugar start to add up when you consume mixed drinks. For every ounce of soda, tonic water or juice, there is approximately 4 grams (or a teaspoon) of sugar. lists USDA National Nutrient Database. Mixed drinks, such as margaritas, pina coladas and daiquiris, can contain over 30 grams of sugar per serving. If you worry about selecting a lower-carbohydrate and lower-sugar alcoholic beverage, especially if you are concerned about the relationship of alcohol and diabetes, wine and distilled liquor are the more desirable options. You can make your own mixed drinks from healthy ingredients.