Alcoholic beverages are high in calories but low in nutrients.
If you are taking medicine of have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or other chronic illnesses, talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol. If you are worried about your weight, you should limit alcoholic drinks. The table below lists the average calorie levels of different drinks. Some people should not drink at all. Women who drink more than 1 drink per day and men who drink more than 2 drinks per day may be at risk for poor nutritional health and for diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver and some forms of cancer, especially if they also smoke.