Drinkers unaware that alcohol can increase weight

18 April 2009

When it comes to drinking, many people do not realise the amount of weight they put on as they are unaware of the calorie content of alcohol.

A study conducted on 2,000 adults for the UK government's 'Know Your Limits campaign', revealed that the average drinker in England now consumes around 2,000 calories from alcohol alone each month, which  is equivalent to 38 extra roast-beef dinners or almost 184 bags of crisps.

About 42 per cent of women admitted they did not know that a glass of white wine has the same calorie content as a bag of crisps. Two large glasses of white wine puts a woman over the recommended daily limit for alcohol consumption and her daily calorie allowance.

Similarly, 40 per cent of men were not aware that a pint of lager has as many calories as a sausage roll. A beer-drinker knocking back just five pints a week would add a whopping 44,200 calories over a year, equivalent to 221 doughnuts.

The survey found that the additional calories came not just come from the alcohol consumed as more than one in three drinkers-37 per cent, admitted that they are likely to eat more than they usually would or ditch the healthy diet when drinking above their recommended daily limits.

Almost one in three-29 per cent drinkers order crisps, nuts or pork scratchings to accompany their booze, while 19 per cent regularly opt for a takeaway to grab a pizza, burger, bag of chips or kebab when drinking more than two pints of beer or two glasses of wine.