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Get the facts about exactly what goes into your alcopop

The table below shows the calories, units and ABV of different alcopops.

What are the daily unit guidelines for alcopops?

The governmnet advises people not to regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol for men (three alcopops) and 2-3 units of alcohol for women (two alcopops).

If you regularly drink over these guidelines you could be increasing your chances of developing long-term health conditions. Find out more about the effects of alcohol.

Check your alcopop's ABV (alcohol by volume)

Checking an alcopop’s ABV (alcohol by volume) will give you a guide to how strong it us. The ABV tells you what percentage of the drink is made up of alcohol. For example, an alcopop with 4% ABV is 4% pure alcohol. The higher the percentage, the more alcohol is present.

One alcopop has as many calories as a bowl of trifle

Alcohol is made by fermenting and distilling natural starch and sugar. This means that alcopops can contain a lot of calories. For instance, one alcopop can contain the same calories as a portion of ice cream.  Alcopops, like any kind of alcohol, can stimulate the appetite and make calorific post-pub fare like kebabs and chips look really appealing.

For more facts: find out if alcohol is making you fat.

Things you can do right now to reduce the amount of alcopops you are drinking

As you can see from the chart, just three alcopops could put you over the daily unit guidelines for the day. To stay on track, try out some of these simple tips.

1.    Sink soft drinks between alcopops Alcopops taste very similar to soft drinks anyway. So try drinking juice, cola or another soft option instead of or between alcopops. It will help you stay hydrated and slow down the rate you’re drinking.

2.    Calorie count Alcopops are easy to swig back – before you know it you will have had your day’s upper unit limit. Cut back by reminding yourself how many calories you’re consuming.

3.    Opt out of rounds Drinking in rounds means that you’re drinking at the speed of the fastest drinker, so you could be consuming your units faster than you’d like. Regain control, and maybe even save some cash, by buying your own drinks instead.

4.    Avoid drinking every day Give your body a good rest by making some nights alcohol-free. Not only will it mean you feel great in the morning – your liver will thank you for it too.

5.    Track your drinking over time If you choose to drink, recording exactly what you’ve drunk during the week will give you a great idea of whether you’re within the guidelines. MyDrinkaware, our new web-based drink tracking tool is perfect for this.

Discover some more practical ways to cut back on alcopops with our tips on cutting down.

Did you know?

With seven calories per gram, alcohol has almost the same calorie content as pure fat.

Scarily, that means on a heavy night out drinking alcopops, you could be consuming much of your day’s healthy calorie intake (2,550 for men, 1940 for women) just in alcohol. And that’s not even including the takeaway pizza (1000+ calories) on the way home. Only the most dedicated gym-goers would be able to burn off that amount of excess calories.

Fact or fantasy? Drinking too many alcopops regularly can make you look like you are permanently blushing

Fact: Rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to blush and flush easily and can eventually lead to facial disfigurement, is linked to alcohol. It’s because one of the effects of alcohol is to dilate the small blood vessels in the skin, which can make the skin appear redder. The central areas of the face can become studded with small red bumps and pus spots, which come and go in crops. Small dilated blood vessels also appear, looking like thin red streaks.

Find out more about how alcohol affects your appearence

Popular alcopop brands in the UK

• Archers Aqua
• Bacardi Breezer
• Baileys Glide
• Bliss
• CheKov Ice
• Red Square
• Reef
• Smirnoff Ice
• VK Vodka Kick
• Vodka Mudshake
• WKD

A potted history of … alcopops

Alcopops are the newest addition to the alcoholic drinks market, bursting onto the scene 15 years ago. They’re made out of either fermented barley, wine or distilled alcohol, to which various fruit juices or other flavourings are added. It’s the high sugar content and similarity to soft drinks that gives them their nickname ‘alcopops’.