Which alcohol drinks have the most sugar? A nutrition diet guide

October 9, 2025 •

4 min read

Recent studies have revealed that sugary beverages are a significant source of added sugars in many diets, and alcohol contributes substantially to this intake. Therefore, understanding which alcohol drinks have the most sugar is a crucial step for anyone monitoring their sugar intake for better health or weight management.

Quick Summary

This guide details the specific alcoholic beverages and mixers highest in sugar, including liqueurs, sweet cocktails, and dessert wines. It also provides a comparison table and outlines lower-sugar alternatives for a healthier approach to drinking.

Key Points

Liqueurs and Creamy Cordials are Highest in Sugar: Sweet liqueurs like Kahlúa and Baileys contain significant amounts of added sugar, sometimes exceeding 30g per serving.
Sugary Cocktails are Major Offenders: Mixers like syrups, juices, and sodas in cocktails like Piña Coladas and Margaritas dramatically increase their sugar content.
Sweet Wines Pack a Punch: Dessert and fortified wines such as Moscato, Port, and Sherry are high in residual sugar, unlike their dry counterparts.
Pure Spirits are Sugar-Free: Distilled spirits like vodka, gin, and whiskey contain no sugar on their own, making them the lowest-sugar option when served neat.
Mixers are Key: To create low-sugar drinks, pair spirits with sugar-free mixers like soda water, seltzer, or diet tonics instead of sugary juices and sodas.
High-Sugar Alcohol has Health Risks: Consuming high-sugar alcohol contributes to weight gain, increased diabetes risk, and cardiovascular problems.

Unmasking the High-Sugar Culprits in Alcohol

While pure distilled spirits contain virtually no sugar, the vast majority of alcoholic beverages get their sweetness and high sugar content from added ingredients and the production process. The fermentation process of wine, beer, and cider also leaves residual sugars, with sweeter varieties having the most. However, the most significant offenders are often cocktails and liqueurs, which feature large quantities of added sugar through syrups, juices, and other sweet ingredients.

The Worst Offenders: Drinks with the Most Sugar

Liqueurs and Creamy Cordials

Liqueurs are a category of alcoholic beverages with a minimum sugar content by weight, and many contain much more. This is especially true for creamy or coffee-flavored varieties. For example, a single 100ml serving of Kahlúa can contain around 39 grams of sugar, while Baileys Irish Cream has approximately 20 grams. The high sugar and fat content in these drinks can quickly add up, contributing significantly to your daily caloric and sugar intake.

Sweet Cocktails and Fruity Mixers

Cocktails are notorious for being sugar-laden, not from the base spirit but from the mixers used. A single serving of a popular cocktail can easily exceed the daily recommended sugar limit. Some of the most sugar-packed cocktails include:

Piña Colada: Made with rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, a Piña Colada can have 22-30 grams of sugar or more per serving.
Mojito: This classic cocktail's sweetness comes from simple syrup, which can contribute 15-25 grams of sugar per serving.
Margarita: Depending on the mix used, a Margarita can contain anywhere from 21 to 60 grams of sugar, with frozen versions being particularly high.

Sweet Wines and Fortified Wines

While many assume all wine is low in sugar, this is far from the truth. The sugar content varies dramatically depending on the wine type. Dry wines ferment most of their sugar, leaving minimal residual sugar. In contrast, sweet dessert wines are deliberately made to retain high sugar levels. Fortified wines are also typically high in sugar. Examples of high-sugar wines and their estimated sugar content include:

Moscato: ~12-15g of sugar per 100ml.
Port: ~10-20g of sugar per 100ml.
Sherry: ~5-15g of sugar per 100ml (depending on style).

Ciders and Alcopops

Often marketed as a refreshing alternative, many commercial ciders and alcopops are packed with added sugars. Some ciders can contain more than 25g of sugar per pint, with certain brands reaching as high as 46g. Similarly, a standard 275ml bottle of an alcopop can contain around 170 calories and a high amount of sugar.

Making Lower-Sugar Alcoholic Drink Choices

For those who wish to reduce their sugar intake while still enjoying a drink, there are many healthier alternatives. The key is to choose low-sugar base spirits and pair them with sugar-free mixers or to opt for dry variants of wine and beer.

Pure Distilled Spirits: Vodka, gin, whiskey, and tequila contain virtually no sugar when consumed neat. The sugar enters the equation with sugary mixers.
Dry Wines: Dry red and white wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc, contain minimal sugar, typically less than 1.5g per 150ml glass.
Light Beer and Dry Sparkling Wine: Light beers are specifically formulated to have fewer carbs and calories, while Brut Champagne or sparkling wine is the driest category and contains the least sugar.
Smart Mixers: Pairing pure spirits with soda water, seltzer, or a splash of sugar-free juice and fresh lime or lemon is a simple way to create a low-sugar cocktail.

A Quick Comparison of Sugar Content


Alcoholic Beverage	Sugar Content (Approximate)	Serving Size
Kahlúa	~39g per 100ml	100ml
Piña Colada	~22-30g per serving	4-6oz serving
Mojito	~15-25g per serving	Standard serving
Moscato Wine	~12-15g per 100ml	100ml
Dry White Wine	~0.6-1.5g per 150ml	150ml glass
Dry Red Wine	~0.9-1.5g per 150ml	150ml glass
Light Beer	0-5g per serving	Standard serving
Distilled Spirits (Neat)	0g per serving	1.5oz shot

Actionable Tips for Reducing Sugar from Alcohol

Here are some practical steps to help reduce your sugar intake from alcoholic drinks:

Read Labels: For bottled mixers, pre-made cocktails, and ciders, check the nutritional information for added sugars.
Choose Dry over Sweet: When selecting wine, opt for a 'Brut' sparkling wine or a 'Dry' variety of red or white to minimize sugar.
Use Sugar-Free Mixers: Replace sugary sodas and juices with club soda, seltzer, diet tonic water, or sugar-free lemon/lime juice.
Infuse Your Own Flavors: Instead of flavored, sweetened spirits, infuse a pure spirit with fresh fruit or herbs for a natural flavor without the sugar.
Drink in Moderation: As with all alcohol consumption, moderation is key. This helps manage not only sugar intake but also overall health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidelines on what constitutes moderate drinking for adults.

The Health Implications of High-Sugar Alcohol Consumption

Beyond the calories and empty carbs, high sugar consumption from alcohol carries significant health risks. Excess sugar intake is linked to weight gain, an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends that most women consume no more than 100 calories (about 6 teaspoons) and men no more than 150 calories (about 9 teaspoons) from added sugars per day. Consuming just one sugary cocktail can easily put you over this daily limit.

Conclusion

While all alcohol should be consumed in moderation, being mindful of sugar content is crucial for managing your nutrition and overall health. Liqueurs, sweet cocktails, dessert wines, and many pre-mixed drinks are the biggest culprits when it comes to high sugar. By making simple substitutions—like opting for dry wines, light beers, or pure spirits with sugar-free mixers—you can significantly reduce your sugar intake. Being aware of what you're drinking empowers you to make smarter, healthier choices that benefit your long-term wellness.

For more information on the impact of added sugar on your health, you can visit the American Heart Association's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pure distilled spirits such as vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, and tequila have zero sugar when consumed on their own. They become high in sugar only when mixed with sugary juices or syrups.

The sugar content in wine varies dramatically. Dry wines, both red and white, have very low sugar (typically under 1.5g per glass), while sweet wines, dessert wines, and fortified wines like Port or Sherry contain much higher levels.

No, not all cocktails are high in sugar. The sugar content depends on the ingredients. Cocktails made with sugar-free mixers like club soda or diet tonic, or those like a dry martini, have minimal sugar.

Hard cider is made from fermented apple juice, and many commercial varieties have added sugars to enhance their sweetness. This can result in some ciders containing very high sugar levels, sometimes over 25g per serving.

Excellent low-sugar mixers include club soda, seltzer, diet tonic water, and a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice. These options allow you to enjoy a spirit without the added sugar from soda or juice.

Unlike unflavored, pure spirits, flavored spirits often have added sugar. For example, flavored vodkas can contain 5-15g of sugar per 100ml, while coconut rum has approximately 16.3g per 100ml.

For packaged alcoholic beverages, checking the nutritional label is the most reliable method. For cocktails made at a bar, it's best to ask what mixers and syrups are being used, as this is where most of the sugar is added.