How many calories you’re really consuming at your Christmas cocktail party

November 23, 2016

Experts have revealed how many kilojoules are in your favourite drinks
Dark spirit mixes have the most, followed by light spirit mixes and ciders
Just four drinks can add more than 4,000kJ to your daily total
This is the equivalent of 12 chocolate Paddle Pops or 20 chicken nuggets
Women are advised to eat around 8,000kJ in one day

Laura House For Daily Mail Australia

Published:
18:37 EST, 21 November 2016

|
Updated:
19:07 EST, 21 November 2016

e-mail

View
comments

With the holiday season fast approaching, many are preparing for an array of festive Christmas parties and indulgent gatherings.

And while a wine or four may seem like a good idea at the time, these drinks add up very quickly and can be worse for you than binging on junk food.

Experts have revealed the eye-opening number of kilojoules in your go-to beverages and the drastic impact they can have on your overall health and ability to reach your summer body goals.

Scroll down for video

Be aware: While a wine or four may seem like a good idea at the time, these drinks add up very quickly and can be worse for you than binging on your favourite junk foods

Bad news: One of the most popular cocktails, an espresso martini has the same amount of kilojoules as a doughnut and three chicken nuggets at 1,190kJ

Watch out! The drinks that do the most damage are dark spirit mixed drinks, with cans of Jim Beam and Cola and Jack Daniel’s Whiskey and Cola having close to 1,100kJ per can

The Cancer Council Victoria recently analysed the number of kilojoules in popular wines, beers, ciders and premix spirits and found that just four alcoholic drinks could be adding a whopping 4,000 kilojoules (956 calories) to your diet.

This is the equivalent of 20 chicken nuggets, 12 chocolate Paddle Pops, three and a half cheeseburgers or five bowls of Froot Loops (with milk!).

The drinks that do the most damage are dark spirit mixed drinks, with cans of Jim Beam and Cola and Jack Daniel’s Whiskey and Cola having almost 1,100kJ per can – close to the amount in a McDonald’s cheeseburger or a six pack of nuggets.

What’s the best day of the week to call in sick? The most…

Princess in her PJs! Mary appears in her DRESSING GOWN after…

‘Do you wear a condom Daddy?’ Father reveals the VERY…

‘Learning to accept my mum bod every day’: Personal trainer…

Worrying: Just four alcoholic drinks could be adding a whopping 4,000 kilojoules (956 calories) or more to your diet

It adds up: Beers have an average of 600kJ per bottle but this amount increased with on tap pints and schooners

A Smirnoff Double Black can was just as high at 1069kJ, followed by a number of other light spirit mixed drinks which on average, have over 900kJ per can.

Ciders have an average of 800kJ per bottle, while beers have an average of 600kJ per bottle (more than a mashed potato and gravy at KFC).

In addition, one of the most popular cocktails, an espresso martini, has the same amount of kilojoules as a doughnut and three nuggets at 1,190kJ.

Eye-opening: Ciders have an average of 800kJ per bottle – but if ordered on tap (pictured) far more kJ can be added without people realising

HOW MANY KILOJOULES ARE IN YOUR FAVOURITE DRINKS?

Dark Spirits

Jim Beam Cola Can: 1099

Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Cola Can: 1069

Bundaberg Rum Cola Can: 998

Wild Turkey Bourbon Cola: 977

Johnnie Walker Red Cola Can: 971

Light Spirits

Smirnoff Double Black Can: 1069

Gordons Elderflower Spritz Bottle: 1015

UDL Vodka Raspberry Can: 971

Smirnoff Raspberry Sorbet Pouch: 955

Smirnoff Lemon Sorbet Pouch: 950

Wine

Red wine medium glass: 456

Dry white medium glass: 454

Sweet white medium glass: 669

Sparkling white medium glass: 434

Rose medium glass: 469

Cider (Bottles)

James Squire Apple (500mL): 875

Bulmers Original (500mL): 870

Somersby Apple (330mL): 868

Somersby Pear (330mL): 868

Strongbow Apple (355mL): 767

Beer

Crown Lager Bottle: 641

Victoria Bitter Bottle: 634

James Boag’s Premium Lager: 623

Corona Extra Beer 355mL: 611

Carlton Draught Stubby: 581

Source: Cancer Council

*500 kJ = 120 Cal

With women between 19 and 50 advised to eat around 8,000 to 11,000 kilojoules per day, four drinks could very easily be making up more than half of their daily total.

Men between 19 and 50 have a slightly higher daily recommendation of between 10,000 and 13,000.

While the amount of energy in these drinks is important to note, the Cancer Council also warns that this level of drinking increases your cancer risk.

Not just about the calories: While the amount of energy in these drinks is important to note, the Cancer Council also warns that this level of drinking also increases your cancer risk

Think it through: While it may be tempting to indulge in more than a couple of drinks at your Christmas cocktails this holiday season, you may want to think twice before shouting that next round

‘More than 3,200, or 2.8 per cent, of the cases of cancer in Australia in 2010 were attributed to alcohol consumption and 3,900 to overweight or obesity,’ they explain.

‘Strong evidence links alcohol to cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, stomach, liver, bowel and female breast.’

So while it may be tempting to indulge in more than a couple of drinks at your Christmas cocktails this holiday season, you may want to think twice before shouting that next round.