How many units and calories are in cider? (2024)

Cider is an alcoholic drink made by fermenting apples. It can be still or sparkling. Perry is a similar drink, made using the same method, but using pears instead of apples.

It’s the third most bought alcoholic drink for consumption at home, after beer and wine.1 But how strong is cider and how many calories does it contain? Read this quick guide to get the facts.

How much alcohol is in cider?

Checking a cider's label for its ABV (alcohol by volume) tells you what percentage of the drink is made up of alcohol. For example, a cider with 5% ABV is five percent pure alcohol. The higher the percentage, the more alcohol there is.

Cider (and perry) sold in the UK can have an alcoholic strength ranging from 1.2% ABV (alcohol by volume) to 8.5% ABV.2 Just over half of cider sold in shops and supermarkets is 5% ABV or higher. Strong ciders of more than 6% ABV account for About one in seven cider sales are strong ciders of more than 6% ABV.3

A good way to keep track of how much you’re drinking is to know how many units of alcohol are in your drink. One unit of alcohol is 10ml (ten millilitres) of pure alcohol – and the number of units you are drinking depends on the drink’s size and strength.

For example, a 500ml can of 5% ABV cider has 2.5 units in it. A 500ml can of strong 7.5% cider would have 3.75 units.

TheUK Chief Medical Officers (CMO) low risk drinking guidelinesadvise you not to drink more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days, with several drink-free days - and no bingeing.

Regularly drinking more than the low risk drinking guidelines increases your risk of serious health conditions including heart problems, high blood pressure and poor mental health. Drinking alcohol also causes at least seven types of cancer, including breast, bowel, mouth and throat cancers.4

How many calories are there in cider?

Alcohol is high in calories. It contains around seven calories a gram - almost as many as fat.5

A pint of cider with 4.5% ABV can contain 210 calories - that’s roughly the same amount of calories as a ring donut.

And the calories in cider don’t just come from the alcohol – it is high in sugar too. A pint of cider can contain as many as five teaspoons of sugar – almost as much as the NHS recommended daily limit.6

Calories from alcohol are often described as 'empty calories', meaning they have no nutritional value because they are consumed in addition to the calories your body needs. And drinking alcohol affects the way your body processes fat for energy.7 You are more likely to store fat around your middle – which is an area where men in particular tend to show weight gain, sometimes referred to as a ‘beer belly’.8,9

What’s more, if you find that you eat more junk food after a drinking session, you won’t be alone. That’s because drinking affects the hormones that control your appetite,10 as well as making you less inhibited and therefore less likely to make healthy choices.11

Find out more about alcohol, calories and maintaining a healthy weight

Tips to reduce the amount of cider you drink

Mind your measures

If you’re used to drinking pints of cider, try switching to smaller measures like a half pint or a small bottle instead.

Track your units with the free MyDrinkaware app

Alternate alcohol with water or soft drinks

Non-alcoholic drinks can help slow your alcohol consumption, reducing the overall units you consume. Water will also help you to stay hydrated. Switching your cider for a diet sparkling apple juice would cut your alcohol and calorie intake.

Have several drink-free days per week

If you drink regularly, your body starts to build up atolerance to alcohol.This is one of the reasons the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines recommend havingseveral drink free days each week, as well as not drinking more than 14 units per week, or binge drinking.

Ideas for your next drink-free day

Track your drinking over time

If you choose to drink, recording exactly what you’ve drunk during the week will tell you whether you're keeping within thelow risk drinking guidelines. Our freeMyDrinkaware app is perfect for tracking your drinks when you’re out and about.

Opt out of rounds

Drinking in rounds means that you’re keeping up with the fastest drinker, so you could be consuming your units faster than you’d like. Regain control, and maybe even save some cash, by buying your own drinks instead.

How many units and calories are in cider? (1)

Further advice and information

Arming yourself with strategies and tips can help you or a loved one take small steps towards big results.

Worried about someone else's drinking? How to stop drinking alcohol completely How to reduce your drinking Is alcohol harming your stomach?

References

[7]Sonko, B. J., Prentice, A. M., Murgatroyd, P. R., et al. (1994). Effect of alcohol on postmeal fat storage. Am J Clin Nutr, 59, 619-25.

[9]Shi, H. and Clegg, D.J. (2009). Sex differences in the regulation of body weight. Physiology &Behavior, 97(2), pp.199-204.

[10]Yeomans, M.R., Caton, S. and Hetherington, M.M. (2003). Alcohol and food intake. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care, 6(6), 639-644.

[11]Gan, G., Guevara, A., Marxen, M., Neumann, M., Jünger, E., Kobiella, A., Mennigen, E., Pilhatsch, M., Schwarz, D., Zimmermann, U.S. and Smolka, M.N. (2014). Alcohol-induced impairment of inhibitory control is linked to attenuated brain responses in right fronto-temporal cortex. Biological Psychiatry, 76(9), 698-707.

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Last Reviewed: 16th August 2023

Next Review due: 16th August 2026

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How many units and calories are in cider? (2024)

FAQs

How many units and calories are in cider? ›

A pint of cider with 4.5% ABV can contain 210 calories - that's roughly the same amount of calories as a ring donut. And the calories in cider don't just come from the alcohol – it is high in sugar too. A pint of cider can contain as many as five teaspoons of sugar – almost as much as the NHS recommended daily limit.

How many calories are in a cider? ›

The average cider with a 4.5% ABV (alcohol content) has approximately 210 calories. That's equivalent to a sugar doughnut or a slice of pizza. Unless you are drinking cider once or twice a week, this could pose a threat if you are on the journey to cut calories.

How many units are in a cider? ›

Cider and the Low Risk Guidelines

One pint of 5% ABV cider contains 2.8 units. So drinking just 5 pints of 5% ABV cider will take you to the limit of the low-risk guidelines of 14 units spread over a week.

What is 14 units of cider? ›

Alcoholic drinks come in different strengths and size, but 14 units is equal to: 6 pints of beer or cider (4% strength) 6 medium (175ml) glass of wine (13% strength)

Is cider better for you than beer? ›

With little to no added sugar, beer is the undisputed winner here. As a result, it typically has lesser carbs than cider which makes it slightly “healthier”, even though the amount of calories remains roughly the same.

Which cider has lowest calories? ›

At only 89 calories per bottle, Skinny Fruit Cider is the fruit cider with the lowest calorie content when compared to other popular brands. Each bottle is a refreshing, lower-calorie drink with no sugar and 4.0% ABV.

What is the healthiest cider to drink? ›

Strongbow Dry, Kopparberg and Magners Light all contain less than 4g of sugar per 100ml, making them the best choices for those looking for a healthier option. Additionally, many craft ciders are now available which are made with natural sugars, such as apple juice or honey.

How much is a unit of cider? ›

One unit of alcohol is 10ml (ten millilitres) of pure alcohol – and the number of units you are drinking depends on the drink's size and strength. For example, a 500ml can of 5% ABV cider has 2.5 units in it. A 500ml can of strong 7.5% cider would have 3.75 units.

What drink is 1 unit? ›

spirits

How many units is 2 bottles of cider? ›

1x 2-litre bottle (2000ml) of 8% Cider = 16 Units. The recommended weekly alcohol limit in the UK for men and women is 14 units, which is the same as 5 and a half pints of 4.5% cider. If you are drinking 'super-strength' cider, that comes down to around 3 pints. Find out more about units in a beer.

Can you get a beer belly from cider? ›

Sweeter wines with high sugar content, such as port, sherry, apple cider and many dessert wines, can add apical fat when consumed regularly over longer periods of time, though usually not quite as much as beer. However, all alcohol consumption provides excess empty calories.

Can two ciders get you drunk? ›

Well, it depends on a few factors, but generally speaking, two cans of 4.5% cider might give a smaller person a decent buzz, but probably won't get them completely sloshed. Body weight plays a big role - a petite 100-pound person is going to feel those two ciders a lot more than a 200-pound person would.

Is cider high in sugar? ›

One major difference between beer and hard cider is the amount of sugar in each bottle. Beer is sugar-free. Brewers typically add sugar in small quantities to balance sourness. Cider, however, can be quite high in sugar because the fruit it contains is naturally full of it.

Which alcohol is least harmful to your liver? ›

Zumpano offers these five options:
  • Dry red wine. Lower in sugars and higher in antioxidants. ...
  • Dry white wine or champagne. Pretty much the same reasoning as above, just without the extra antioxidants.
  • No-fuss cocktails. ...
  • Light beer. ...
  • Hard kombucha.
Oct 19, 2023

Are there any benefits to drinking cider? ›

Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body.

Can diabetics drink cider? ›

People with type 2 diabetes are recommended to limit their intake of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks such as beer, cider, stout, cocktails, wine and sweetened spirit drinks contain a large amount of carbohydrates. These can raise blood glucose. Sweetened mixers added to alcohol may also contain carbohydrates.

Is cider less fattening than beer? ›

Cider contains 47 calories per 100ml on average, whereas across the most popular brands in the UK, beer contains 40 calories per 100ml on average. So, cider does generally contain more calories than beer but this is not always the case.

Is cider high in calories? ›

A pint of cider with 4.5% ABV can contain 210 calories - that's roughly the same amount of calories as a ring donut. And the calories in cider don't just come from the alcohol – it is high in sugar too. A pint of cider can contain as many as five teaspoons of sugar – almost as much as the NHS recommended daily limit.

How many calories in a 12oz cider? ›

Nutrition Facts
NutrientValue
Calories170
Fats0g
Saturated fats0g
Trans fats0g
83 more rows

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