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Get the facts on exactly what goes into your spirits

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

What are the daily unit guidelines for spirits?

The government advises that people should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol for men (three single measures of whisky) and 2-3 units of alcohol for women (three single gin and tonics).

As you can see from the chart, three 35ml measures of spirits puts a man over the daily guidelines. Just two 35ml measures will put a woman close to the upper guideline limit.

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 the strength of your spirits

Checking a spirit’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, a spirit with 40% ABV is 40% pure alcohol. The higher the percentage, the more alcohol is present.

How a double whisky has as many calories as a chocolate cereal bar

Alcohol is made by fermenting and distilling natural starch and sugar. This means that spirits can contain a lot of calories. For instance, a double whisky can contain the same calories as a portion of chips. Spirits, 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 and get the truth about beer bellies, love handles and moobs.

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

Spirit measures are so small that you can easily drink over the guidelines without really noticing. To stay on track, try out some of these simple tips.

1.    Mind your measures at home If you’re used to drinking doubles, try switching to single shots of spirits. Avoid measuring spirits by eye – it’s easy to over-pour.  You can buy spirit measures and pourers in most good kitchenware shops or online.

2.    …and at the bar Although spirits used to be commonly served in 25ml measures, many pubs and bars now serve them in 35ml or even 50ml measures. Ask before you buy so you can keep track of how much you are drinking.

3.    Avoid shots Downing any kind of alcoholic shots will take you over the recommended guidelines very quickly so try and avoid doing them.

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

5.    Keep a drink diary 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 spirits with our tips on cutting down.

Popular spirit brands in the UK

• Absolut
• Archers
• Bacardi
• Bell’s
• Bombay Sapphire
• Captain Morgan
• Chekov
• Gordon’s
• Martell
• Smirnoff
• Teacher’s

A potted history of … spirits

Spirits are the hard stuff: distilled fermented grain, fruit or vegetables that contain no added sugar and are at least 20% pure alcohol. We started distilling alcohol in the eighth century, but only the secret few knew how to do it since the production method was written in code. The method isn’t actually too different from the one we use today – but it’s still illegal to make spirits at home.

Did you know?

Gin really can make you cry.

Alcohol is a depressant – it slows down the parts of your brain that control your emotions (called the limbic system), so you experience exaggerated emotional states. In the long term, regularly drinking to excess can interfere with the way your brain produces serotonin – a chemical that helps control your mood. This can contribute to drinkers becoming depressed – and maybe drinking more as a result.

Find out more about alcohol, mental health and wellbeing 

Fact or fantasy? A shot or two of whisky will make you feel warm in the winter.

Fantasy: when you drink it dilates the peripheral blood vessels near the surface of your skin, which means more blood –and heat - flows to these vessels. That takes blood and heat away from the core of your body. So while it feels like you’re warm because your skin is warm, your vital organs may not be getting the warmth they need. In serious cases this can lead to hypothermia.

Read more on drinking alcohol in cold weather