With the festive party season in full swing, many of us are indulging more than usual. In fact, almost two-thirds (64%) of UK drinkers admit to consuming more alcohol over Christmas compared to the rest of the year. However, new analysis has revealed that some popular festive beverages contain shocking amounts of sugar and calories.
The research, conducted by the team at ZAVA, analysed various alcoholic beverages to uncover the UK’s unhealthiest drinks ahead of the holidays. The findings show that many adults could be unknowingly consuming thousands of additional calories during December, with 57% of drinkers likely to binge drink on Christmas Day alone.
Topping the list of unhealthy choices is the Piña Colada. This holiday favourite contains a massive 320 calories and 58g of sugar per serving—often exceeding daily recommended sugar limits in a single glass. It is followed closely by the Margarita (248 calories) and the Espresso Martini (225 calories), which uses a creamy, high-fat base to pack in “empty calories”.
Here is the ranking of the unhealthiest alcoholic drinks analysed:
- Piña Colada: 58g sugar / 320 calories
- Margarita: 13g sugar / 248 calories
- Espresso Martini: 20g sugar / 225 calories
- Lager: <2g sugar / 220 calories
- Guinness: 0.6g sugar / 210 calories
- Long Island Iced Tea: 27g sugar / 207 calories
- Pimm’s: 25g sugar / 169 calories
- Hugo Spritz: 0g sugar / 137 calories
- Aperol Spritz: 19g sugar / 125 calories
- Red Wine: 3g sugar / 123 calories
The analysis highlights that while cocktails like Long Island Iced Tea and Pimm’s are packed with sugar, other drinks like Lager and Guinness remain high in calories despite having very low sugar levels. This is due to the alcohol itself contributing hidden energy.
Social pressures play a significant role in this increased consumption. Nearly one in five UK employees (18%) report feeling extra pressure to drink at work parties, with friends (16%) and family (10%) adding to the festive influence. These social occasions frequently coincide with the most calorific cocktail options.
Doctors at ZAVA have warned about the impact of these “empty calories”. They explain that calories from alcohol do not come with nutritional benefits and are converted to fat, leading to weight gain over time. Furthermore, high alcohol intake stops the liver from releasing glucose, which can cause low blood sugar, leaving party-goers feeling lightheaded, shaky, or irritable.
For those choosing to stay sober this season, the data shows that non-alcoholic alternatives aren’t always the healthier choice. Energy drinks topped the non-alcoholic chart with 335 calories and 78g of sugar per serving—more than some of the heaviest cocktails.
The unhealthiest non-alcoholic options were ranked as follows:
- Energy Drink: 78g sugar / 335 calories
- Orange Juice: 51g sugar / 229 calories
- Grape Juice: 42g sugar / 175 calories
- Lemon Water: 21.3g sugar / 96 calories
- Guinness 0.0: 3g sugar / 71 calories
For those looking for lighter options during festive gatherings, the data suggests sticking to drinks like a Hugo Spritz, Aperol Spritz, or a standard glass of red wine, which offer lower-calorie alternatives to the heavy, creamy cocktails that dominate the season.
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