Average Briton consumes 3.5m calories of alcohol in lifetime, says study

Research shows drinkers consume equivalent of 12 roast dinners or nine McDonald's Big Macs in fat from beers, wines and spirits each month

Fifty-seven per cent of respondents said they like socialising with a pint (Shutterstock)

The average Brit will consume a staggering 3.5 million calories over a lifetime - in alcohol, a study has found.

Research revealed in a typical month, they will enjoy eight pints of lager or beer, nine glasses of wine and three glasses of bubbly, racking up 4,918 calories in the process.

That means they will consume the equivalent of 12 roast dinners or nine Big Macs in alcohol alone.

Gary Conway, co-founder of Skinny Brands, which commissioned the research, said: “With the festive season very much upon us, Brits are most likely indulging in glasses of fizz and plenty of pints meaning their calorie count is quickly adding up.

“It’s so easy to have one after another and quickly forget what each drink really contains, which is why we thought it’s time to find out.”

The study also found Brits favour a glass of red wine over anything else, and as the most calorific wine choice over white and rose, it’s no wonder the tally is totting up.

Beer closely followed as the second favourite followed by white wine, lager and cider in third, fourth and fifth position.

Stereotypes reign true as the study also revealed four in ten men don’t believe they could give up alcohol for good compared to three in ten women.

Over half of men admitted they couldn’t ditch the drink because they love the taste too much with 57 per cent agreeing they enjoy socialising with a pint.

An equal number of women favour a little tipple because it helps them to relax, with just under half confessing they couldn’t lose the booze as they enjoy the taste too much.

The research, conducted via OnePoll.com, also revealed a whopping 85 per cent admit to being clueless around the calories they consume from booze, with millions of Brits thinking a pint has less than half the calories it actually contains.

On average, adults believe a pint has 17 calories fewer than it does and think a glass of wine has 28 fewer than the actual number.

This underestimation is the equivalent of 4,656 calories a year – the same as eating 35 bags of ready salted crisps.

Just over one quarter of the nation will go as far as to limit their eating habits to make up for what they expect to indulge in during their weekly drinking habits.

And over a third will find themselves opting for diet drinks as a result of being conscious about the calories in their alcohol.

Gary Conway added: “We’ve seen incredible demand for drinks that don’t compromise on flavour or alcohol content, but have less calories even though most people don’t really know how many are in a standard pint or bottle.

“Whilst some people will opt for cutting down the calories in January, we’ve had some great messages from customers who are simply going to choose Skinny Brands Lager this Christmas and get a head start for the new year.”

Calories consumed in a month for each drink:

• Beer (180 per pint) is 1,440 calories per month
• Cider (210 per pint) is 630 calories
• Wine (160 per 175ml glass) is 1,440 calories
• Sparkling wine/prosecco (89 per glass) is 267 calories
• Single shot with no mixer (50 per 25ml) is 200 calories
• Single shot with mixer (106 per glass) is 530 calories
• Cocktail (120 per glass) is 240 calories
• Alcopop (171 per glass) is 171 calories

Top 10 favourite drinks:

1. Red wine
2. Beer
3. White wine
4. Lager
5. Cider
6. Prosecco
7. Cocktails
8. Rose wine
9. Whiskey
10. Vodka

SWNS