It can seem like a hard life trying to keep fit and healthy, right? Sometimes it seems as if everything super scrumptious is absolutely filled to the brim with calories and all kinds of things that are bad for you.

And it can be the same with alcohol. We’ve all heard the horror stories of how a bottle of beer is equivalent to a whopping 7 slices of bread. And those cocktails that go down all too easily contain unholy amounts of sugar. 

And so we stick to the standard vodka tonic. We’ve heard time and time again, that a vodka tonic is the best option for those trying to keep their calorie intake a little lower. But how many calories are in a vodka tonic? What about carbs (to learn more see ‘How Many Carbs In Gin?‘)? Is slimline or diet tonic bad for you? 

Let’s answer all these questions. 

How Many Calories Are In A Diet Tonic (12oz)?

So, before we get to the vodka, let’s take a look at a diet tonic. If you choose a diet tonic as your mixer, you’ll be consuming 0 calories. Yep, that’s right there are no calories in a diet tonic. 

There is also 0g of fat in a diet tonic along with 0g of carbs! However, when it comes to sodium there is some. There’s around 105 mg of sodium in one bottle of diet tonic which works out at around 5% of your daily intake. 

How Many Calories Are In A Regular Tonic(12oz)?

If you opt for a regular tonic you can expect to consume around 110-120 calories per 12-ounce serving. 

It’ll typically contain no fat, fiber, or protein. It will also contain around 30g of carbohydrates, 30g of sugar, along with 40 mg of sodium. 

You Might Be Better Off Opting For A Regular Tonic 

Though slimline and diet tonics may have fewer calories, that doesn’t mean that it is necessarily healthy for you. You see, many diet drinks like tonics contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. 

These ingredients have caused quite a controversy for some time now. For quite a while, they have been linked to several health issues and have even been said to potentially cause cancer. 

As of right now, the FDA has considered these sweeteners to be safe for consumption but there is still a lot of ongoing research trying to determine whether consuming these sweeteners is actually good for your health. 

So, for the sake of 100 calories, it may be worth just sticking with a regular tonic over the diet options. But that’s your call to make. 

What About When You Add a 1.5oz Shot Of Vodka? 

Typically, your average shot of vodka will contain around 100 calories which in terms of alcohol, is actually pretty low. 

So, if you opt for a vodka with a diet tonic you’ll be consuming around 100 calories for a single and 200 calories for a double. 

However, if you prefer a vodka and regular tonic you’ll be consuming around 220 calories for a single and 320 calories for a double. 

Calories In Different Brands Of Vodka (1.5oz)

• Ketel One – 96 calories
• Absolut – 96 calories
• Belvedere – 96 calories
• Stolichnaya – 96 calories
• Smirnoff Vodka (Red Label)- 97 calories
• Royal Gate – 97 calories
• Popov Vodka – 97 calories
• Bowman’s Vodka – 97 calories
• Grey Goose – 97 calories
• Tito’s Handmade Vodka – 97 calories 
• Svedka – 104 calories
• Smirnoff Vodka (Silver Label) – 110 calories
• Smirnoff Vodka (Blue Label) – 121 calories
• Popov Vodka (50% ABV) – 121 calories

Can You Drink Alcohol And Still Lose Weight?

If you are calorie counting your nightly, weekly, or perhaps even monthly tipples, then you’re probably trying to get a little healthier or lose some weight. And so you’re probably wondering if it is still possible to shed those pounds if you indulge in a drink every now and then. 

You Can! 

You’ll be happy to learn that you don’t have to completely give up drinking if you’re trying to lose weight. You’ll want to stick to your lower-calorie options such as your vodka tonic or even a vodka and soda rather than those higher-calorie drinks such as beer. You will also need to drink a little less often. 

When it comes to losing weight or being healthier, you just need to remember that everything is okay in moderation. Of course, if you’re guzzling down drink after drink, night after night, those calories are going to add up and it’s going to hinder your progress.

But treating yourself to the occasional drink here and there, or even a fair few on a night out every once in a while won’t completely ruin your progress. 

Other Low-Calorie Drinks

If you get a little sick of drinking vodka and tonic, why not try a few of these low-calorie options? 

• White Wine – 123 Calories per 5-ounce serving

• Hard Seltzer – 99 calories per 12-ounce serving

• Light Beer – 104 calories per 12-ounce serving 

• Rum & Diet Coke – 135 calories per 7.5-ounce serving 

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, a vodka tonic will typically contain around 220 calories for a single and 320 for a double. If you prefer to go for a slimline or diet tonic then you can expect to be consuming around 100 calories for each single, and 200 for every double that you drink. 

Regardless of your mixer, though, you’re still opting for a fairly low-calorie beverage especially when you compare it to some of the higher-calorie options on the market. For example, a shot of schnapps contains 195 calories before you even introduce a mixer. 

And of course, if you ever get a little fed up with drinking vodka and tonic, because let’s face it variety is the spice of life, why not try one of the other options listed in this article? White wine is known for being pretty low in calories and also takes a while to sip so that’s a great option for a change.