What alcohol is full of sugar? Your guide to navigating sugary drinks

October 10, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Drinkaware, alcoholic beverages account for over 9% of the 'free sugar' consumed by some adults. This makes understanding what alcohol is full of sugar? a crucial step for anyone monitoring their diet, blood sugar, or calorie intake.

Quick Summary

Certain alcoholic beverages, such as liqueurs, fortified wines, and pre-mixed drinks, contain significant amounts of added sugar. High sugar content contributes to excess calories, weight gain, and blood sugar spikes, impacting overall diet goals.

Key Points

Liqueurs are Highest: Sweetened spirits like Kahlua and amaretto contain very high levels of added sugar, making them one of the most sugary alcohol categories.
Cider and Sweet Wine: Ciders and dessert wines are also significant sources of sugar, with some ciders packing as much as 5 teaspoons per pint.
Pure Spirits are Sugar-Free: Distilled spirits like vodka, gin, and tequila contain virtually no sugar in their pure form, but the mixers are the problem.
Hidden Cocktail Sugars: Many cocktails get their high sugar count from mixers like juice, tonic water, and syrups, rather than the spirit itself.
Opt for Dry Options: Choosing dry wines or light beers, and mixing spirits with soda water, can dramatically reduce your sugar intake from alcohol.
Check for Added Sugar: Distinguishing between naturally occurring residual sugar and added sweeteners is key, as the latter contributes significantly to a drink's overall sugar content.
High Sugar Equals Empty Calories: The calories from sugary alcohol contribute to overall intake without providing nutritional value, potentially leading to weight gain.

Alcoholic drinks are not only sources of calories from the alcohol itself, but many also contain high levels of added or residual sugar, which can negatively impact nutritional goals and weight management. While pure, distilled spirits like vodka and gin contain no sugar, a host of other popular drinks are loaded with it, often unbeknownst to the drinker. Understanding the primary sugar culprits is the first step toward making more mindful choices.

The Primary Sugar Culprits in Alcohol

Some of the highest sugar levels are found in drinks that are sweetened during or after production. These can lead to a surprisingly high intake of empty calories and free sugars, which have no nutritional value and can lead to weight gain.

Liqueurs and Flavored Spirits

As spirits infused with additional flavorings and sweeteners, liqueurs are among the most sugary alcoholic beverages. For example, coffee liqueurs can have as much as 39 grams of sugar per 100ml, and creamy varieties are also very high. Flavored spirits like honey whiskey or fruit-infused vodkas also contain added sugars.

Sweet Wines and Dessert Wines

While dry wines have minimal residual sugar, their sweeter counterparts, including dessert wines, are intentionally high in sugar. Varieties such as Port, Sherry, Moscato, and Sauternes can contain 10-20 grams of sugar or more per serving. The seemingly healthier lower-alcohol wines can sometimes contain more sugar to enhance flavor.

Ciders and Pre-Mixed Drinks

Commercial ciders are often high in sugar, with some pints containing up to 5 teaspoons. The same applies to ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, also known as alcopops, which are typically fruit-flavored and very sweet. These products combine spirits with sugary mixers, making their sugar content particularly high.

Hidden Sugars in Cocktails and Mixers

Even if you choose a low-sugar spirit, the mixers you add can drastically increase your overall sugar and calorie intake. The classic spirit and mixer combination often becomes a high-sugar cocktail without a second thought.

Sugary Mixers and Syrups

Most of the sugar in cocktails comes from mixers like regular soda, tonic water, and fruit juices. For instance, a vodka-cranberry can contain upwards of 30g of sugar. Syrups, a common cocktail ingredient, also pack a significant sugar punch, contributing to high-sugar drinks like mojitos and margaritas.

How to Create Lower-Sugar Drinks

To avoid a sugar overload, consider the following low-sugar alternatives for your drinks:

Pure Spirits with Low-Calorie Mixers: Mix vodka, gin, or whiskey with soda water, diet tonic, or sugar-free mixers.
Dry Wines: Opt for dry varieties of red, white, or sparkling wine, which contain less sugar.
Hard Seltzers: These are typically low in sugar and carbohydrates, making them a popular choice for those monitoring intake.

High Sugar vs. Low Sugar Alcoholic Drinks

Here's a comparison to help you make informed choices, with approximate values based on standard serving sizes:


Drink Type	High Sugar Options	Approx. Sugar / Serving	Low Sugar Options	Approx. Sugar / Serving
Liqueurs	Kahlua, Baileys	20-39g per 100ml	N/A	N/A
Wines	Moscato, Port	10-20g per 100-150ml	Dry Red/White, Brut Champagne	0.9-2g per 150ml
Ciders	Commercial Cider	20-30g per 500ml	N/A	N/A
Cocktails	Piña Colada, Margarita	17-30g per serving	Dry Martini, Vodka Soda	0-1g per serving
Beer	Some Craft/Non-Alc Beer	2-6g per 355ml	Regular/Light Beer	0-1g per 355ml

Reading Labels: Residual Sugar vs. Added Sugar

In some alcoholic beverages, particularly wine and beer, sugar can be present from the fermentation process itself. This is known as residual sugar. In contrast, many of the most sugary drinks contain added sugar to achieve a desired flavor.

Fermentation and Distillation

During fermentation, yeast converts sugar from sources like grapes or grain into alcohol and carbon dioxide. For pure spirits like vodka and gin, the distillation process separates the alcohol, leaving behind virtually no sugar. However, in wines and beers, some sugar may remain.

The Impact on Taste

Added sugar is a key component of liqueurs, flavored spirits, and pre-mixed cocktails. The combination of alcohol and high sugar content can amplify calorie intake, making these drinks especially problematic for diet-conscious individuals. This is why cocktails made with simple syrups and juices are often so high in both calories and sugar.

Conclusion

For those on a nutritional diet, being aware of what alcohol is full of sugar? is essential for making informed choices. Liqueurs, sweet wines, ciders, and many popular cocktails are loaded with sweeteners that add empty calories and can hinder weight loss efforts. Choosing dry wines, pure spirits with sugar-free mixers, or low-sugar seltzers can significantly reduce sugar intake without completely giving up alcohol. By opting for low-sugar alternatives, you can enjoy a drink without derailing your diet and health goals.

For more information on the health effects of alcohol and sugar, visit Drinkaware.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Liqueurs, sweet dessert wines like Port and Moscato, many commercial ciders, and pre-mixed cocktails tend to have the highest sugar content due to added sweeteners.

Avoid sugary mixers like fruit juice, tonic, and regular soda. Instead, use soda water, a splash of diet soda, or fresh lemon or lime juice to flavor your drink.

No, the sugar content in wine varies significantly. Dry wines, such as Brut champagne, dry reds, and dry whites, contain very little residual sugar, unlike sweet dessert wines.

Most regular beer is low in sugar, as the yeast converts much of the sugar to alcohol during fermentation. However, it is high in carbohydrates, and some craft or non-alcoholic beers can have more sugar.

No, pure distilled spirits like vodka, gin, and whiskey contain no sugar in their unflavored form, making them a sugar-free base for cocktails.

Sugary alcoholic drinks contain empty calories that can contribute to weight gain. Alcohol also causes the body to prioritize its metabolism over fat burning and can increase cravings for sugary or salty foods.

Residual sugar is leftover from the natural fermentation of ingredients like grapes or grain. Added sugar is manually mixed in by the manufacturer for flavor and sweetness, often found in liqueurs and cocktails.