Alcohol Glycemic Index Chart: Beer, Wine, Spirits & Cocktails Compared
Glycemic index of alcoholic drinks including beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails. Learn how alcohol affects blood sugar differently than food.
TL;DR: Pure alcohol has no GI because it is not a carbohydrate. However, the sugar and carb content in different alcoholic drinks varies enormously. Dry wine and spirits are nearly zero impact. Regular beer is moderate. Sweet cocktails, liqueurs, and mixers are where the glucose spikes come from. Alcohol also complicates blood sugar by blocking the liver’s glucose production, which can cause delayed hypoglycemia.
How to Use This Alcohol GI Guide
Alcohol and blood sugar have a complicated relationship. Unlike food, alcohol itself is metabolized by the liver as a toxin, not as a carbohydrate. Pure ethanol has no glycemic index. But most alcoholic drinks contain carbohydrates (from grain, fruit, or added sugar) that do affect blood sugar.
This chart covers beer, wine, spirits, liqueurs, mixers, and common cocktails. For each drink, the estimated GI, carbohydrate content, and glycemic load are provided. Use this reference to understand which drinks are essentially glucose-neutral and which deliver a significant sugar load.
Important for people with diabetes: Alcohol blocks the liver from releasing glucose, which can cause hypoglycemia 2-12 hours after drinking, especially if combined with insulin or sulfonylureas. This chart addresses the direct glycemic impact of the drink itself. The delayed hypoglycemic effect is separate and potentially more dangerous.
Beer
| Beer Type | GI | Serving | Carbs (g) | GL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-light beer (e.g., Michelob Ultra) | ~35 | 355ml (12 oz) | 2.6 | 1 | Minimal carb content |
| Light beer (e.g., Bud Light, Miller Lite) | ~45 | 355ml (12 oz) | 5-7 | 3 | Reduced carbs vs regular |
| Pilsner / Lager (regular) | ~66 | 355ml (12 oz) | 11-13 | 7 | Standard commercial beer |
| Pale ale | ~66 | 355ml (12 oz) | 12-14 | 8 | Similar to lager |
| IPA | ~50 | 355ml (12 oz) | 14-18 | 8 | Higher carbs but more complex sugars |
| Amber ale / Red ale | ~60 | 355ml (12 oz) | 14-17 | 9 | Moderate maltose content |
| Wheat beer (Hefeweizen) | ~66 | 355ml (12 oz) | 13-16 | 9 | Wheat adds carbs |
| Stout (Guinness) | ~40 | 355ml (12 oz) | 10 | 4 | Lower GI than expected |
| Porter | ~45 | 355ml (12 oz) | 14-16 | 7 | Dark roasted malts |
| Belgian Tripel | ~55 | 355ml (12 oz) | 12-16 | 8 | Higher alcohol, moderate carbs |
| Non-alcoholic beer | ~66 | 355ml (12 oz) | 14-20 | 10 | Similar carbs to regular, no alcohol offset |
| Hard seltzer (White Claw, etc.) | ~30 | 355ml (12 oz) | 2 | 1 | Very low carb |
| Hard cider, dry | ~40 | 355ml (12 oz) | 6-10 | 3 | Fermented apple sugars |
| Hard cider, sweet | ~55 | 355ml (12 oz) | 18-25 | 12 | Residual sugar |
Wine
| Wine Type | GI | Serving | Carbs (g) | GL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry red wine (Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir) | ~0-5 | 150ml (5 oz) | 2-4 | 0 | Nearly zero glycemic impact |
| Dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio) | ~0-5 | 150ml (5 oz) | 2-3 | 0 | Very low carbs |
| Chardonnay (oaked, dry) | ~0-5 | 150ml (5 oz) | 3 | 0 | Dry = minimal residual sugar |
| Rosé, dry | ~0-5 | 150ml (5 oz) | 3-4 | 0 | Similar to dry white |
| Champagne / Brut sparkling | ~0-5 | 150ml (5 oz) | 1-2 | 0 | ”Brut” means very low sugar |
| Prosecco | ~5 | 150ml (5 oz) | 2-3 | 0 | Slightly higher sugar than Brut |
| Off-dry Riesling | ~15 | 150ml (5 oz) | 6-8 | 1 | Noticeable residual sugar |
| Moscato | ~25 | 150ml (5 oz) | 11-14 | 3 | Sweet wine, significant sugar |
| Port wine | ~30 | 60ml (2 oz) | 7-10 | 3 | Fortified, sweet, high alcohol |
| Sherry, dry (Fino) | ~0-5 | 60ml (2 oz) | 1 | 0 | Dry fortified wine |
| Sherry, sweet (Cream) | ~30 | 60ml (2 oz) | 7-9 | 2 | Sweet fortified wine |
| Dessert wine (Sauternes, ice wine) | ~35 | 60ml (2 oz) | 12-20 | 5 | Very high sugar content |
| Sangria | ~40 | 200ml | 15-22 | 7 | Added sugar and juice |
Spirits (Neat / On the Rocks)
| Spirit | GI | Serving | Carbs (g) | GL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 0 | 45ml (1.5 oz) | 0 | 0 | Pure ethanol + water |
| Gin | 0 | 45ml (1.5 oz) | 0 | 0 | Botanicals add no carbs |
| Whiskey / Bourbon | 0 | 45ml (1.5 oz) | 0 | 0 | Barrel aging adds no carbs |
| Scotch | 0 | 45ml (1.5 oz) | 0 | 0 | Zero carbohydrate |
| Rum (unflavored) | 0 | 45ml (1.5 oz) | 0 | 0 | Sugar fermented out |
| Tequila | 0 | 45ml (1.5 oz) | 0 | 0 | Zero carbohydrate |
| Brandy / Cognac | 0 | 45ml (1.5 oz) | 0-1 | 0 | Trace carbs possible |
| Mezcal | 0 | 45ml (1.5 oz) | 0 | 0 | Similar to tequila |
Liqueurs
| Liqueur | GI | Serving | Carbs (g) | GL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaretto | ~40 | 30ml (1 oz) | 17 | 7 | Very high sugar |
| Baileys Irish Cream | ~35 | 30ml (1 oz) | 8 | 3 | Cream + sugar |
| Cointreau / Triple Sec | ~45 | 30ml (1 oz) | 11 | 5 | Orange liqueur, high sugar |
| Grand Marnier | ~40 | 30ml (1 oz) | 10 | 4 | Cognac-based, sugary |
| Kahlua | ~45 | 30ml (1 oz) | 15 | 7 | Coffee + sugar |
| Limoncello | ~50 | 30ml (1 oz) | 14 | 7 | Lemon + significant sugar |
| Chambord | ~45 | 30ml (1 oz) | 13 | 6 | Raspberry liqueur |
| Jagermeister | ~35 | 30ml (1 oz) | 11 | 4 | Herbal, moderate sugar |
| Fireball | ~45 | 30ml (1 oz) | 11 | 5 | Cinnamon + sugar |
Mixers
Mixers are often where the glycemic impact of cocktails comes from.
| Mixer | GI | Serving | Carbs (g) | GL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soda water / Club soda | 0 | 250ml | 0 | 0 | Zero impact |
| Diet soda (any) | 0 | 250ml | 0 | 0 | Artificial sweetener |
| Tonic water (regular) | ~60 | 250ml | 22 | 13 | As much sugar as Coca-Cola |
| Tonic water (diet/slimline) | 0 | 250ml | 0 | 0 | Sugar-free |
| Coca-Cola | 63 | 250ml | 27 | 17 | High sugar mixer |
| Ginger ale | 65 | 250ml | 24 | 16 | Similar to cola |
| Ginger beer | 65 | 250ml | 28 | 18 | Higher sugar than ginger ale |
| Cranberry juice cocktail | 52 | 250ml | 34 | 18 | High sugar unless unsweetened |
| Orange juice | 50 | 250ml | 26 | 13 | Natural sugars |
| Pineapple juice | 46 | 250ml | 25 | 12 | Moderate GI |
| Tomato juice | 38 | 250ml | 9 | 3 | Low carb mixer |
| Simple syrup | 65 | 15ml | 12 | 8 | Pure sugar + water |
| Grenadine | 65 | 15ml | 12 | 8 | Pomegranate sugar syrup |
| Sweet and sour mix | 60 | 60ml | 18 | 11 | Lemon + sugar |
Common Cocktails
| Cocktail | Estimated GI | Serving | Est. Carbs (g) | Est. GL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka soda (with lime) | ~0 | 250ml | 0 | 0 | Essentially zero carbs |
| Gin and diet tonic | ~0 | 250ml | 0 | 0 | Sugar-free mixer |
| Dry martini | ~0 | 90ml | 0-1 | 0 | Gin/vodka + dry vermouth |
| Whiskey neat/rocks | 0 | 45ml | 0 | 0 | Pure spirit |
| Tequila with lime and salt | ~0 | 45ml | 0 | 0 | Negligible carbs |
| Gin and tonic (regular tonic) | ~55 | 250ml | 22 | 12 | Tonic provides all the sugar |
| Rum and Coke | ~60 | 300ml | 27 | 16 | Cola is the GI driver |
| Whiskey sour | ~50 | 120ml | 12 | 6 | Lemon + simple syrup |
| Old Fashioned | ~40 | 120ml | 5-8 | 3 | Small amount of sugar |
| Manhattan | ~20 | 90ml | 4 | 1 | Sweet vermouth adds small sugar |
| Mojito | ~55 | 250ml | 20-25 | 12 | Sugar + soda water |
| Margarita | ~50 | 150ml | 15-20 | 9 | Triple sec + lime + sugar |
| Frozen margarita | ~60 | 250ml | 30-40 | 20 | Extra sugar in frozen blends |
| Cosmopolitan | ~50 | 120ml | 12-16 | 7 | Cranberry juice + triple sec |
| Pina colada | ~55 | 250ml | 32-40 | 20 | Coconut cream + pineapple juice |
| Long Island Iced Tea | ~55 | 300ml | 22-28 | 14 | Cola + sweet-and-sour |
| Daiquiri (classic) | ~45 | 120ml | 10-12 | 5 | Rum + lime + sugar |
| Frozen daiquiri | ~60 | 250ml | 35-45 | 23 | Blended, extra sugar |
| Espresso martini | ~40 | 120ml | 12-16 | 6 | Kahlua + sugar |
| Moscow mule | ~55 | 250ml | 20-24 | 12 | Ginger beer is high sugar |
| Aperol spritz | ~30 | 200ml | 8-10 | 3 | Aperol + prosecco + soda |
| Mimosa | ~45 | 200ml | 10-12 | 5 | OJ + champagne |
| Bloody Mary | ~35 | 250ml | 8-10 | 3 | Tomato juice base |
How Alcohol Affects Blood Sugar: The Full Picture
Alcohol has two opposing effects on blood sugar:
1. Direct Glycemic Effect (Immediate)
The carbohydrates in the drink raise blood sugar like any food. This is what the GI and GL values in this chart measure. A sweet cocktail causes a glucose spike just like a sugary soft drink.
2. Liver Suppression Effect (Delayed, 2-12 Hours)
Alcohol blocks the liver from producing glucose (gluconeogenesis). The liver prioritizes metabolizing alcohol over releasing glucose. This can cause blood sugar to drop several hours after drinking, especially:
- When drinking on an empty stomach
- When taking insulin or sulfonylureas
- During sleep after evening drinking
- After heavy or prolonged drinking
For people with diabetes, the delayed hypoglycemia risk is often more dangerous than the initial glucose spike from a sweet drink. Always eat carbohydrate-containing food when drinking.
How to Read This Chart
Alcohol GI values are less standardized than food values because many drinks have not been formally tested using the standard GI protocol. The values here are estimated based on carbohydrate content and type:
-
GI 0 (No impact): Pure spirits, dry wine, spirit + sugar-free mixer. These drinks contain essentially zero carbohydrate and have no direct glycemic impact.
-
GI 30-50 (Low to moderate): Light beer, stout, cocktails with small amounts of sugar, liqueurs in small pours. Measurable but moderate glycemic impact.
-
GI 50-70 (Moderate to high): Regular beer, cocktails with sugary mixers, sweet wines. These deliver a significant glucose load, comparable to soft drinks.
-
GI 70+ (Equivalent to sugary drinks): Frozen cocktails and drinks made with regular tonic, cola, or juice in large quantities. Some frozen margaritas and pina coladas contain more sugar than a can of soda.
Key Takeaways
- Spirits neat or with sugar-free mixers are glycemically neutral. Vodka soda, gin and diet tonic, and whiskey on the rocks have zero direct glucose impact.
- The mixer is the problem, not the alcohol. A gin and tonic with regular tonic (GL 12) is dramatically different from gin with diet tonic (GL 0). Always check the mixer.
- Dry wine is excellent for blood sugar. Both red and white dry wines have virtually zero GI with 2-4g of carbs per glass. They are among the best alcoholic choices for glucose management.
- Beer varies significantly. Ultra-light beer and hard seltzers (GL 1) are very different from regular lager (GL 7-8). Stout is surprisingly moderate (GL 4).
- Frozen and blended cocktails are sugar bombs. Frozen margaritas (GL 20+) and pina coladas (GL 20+) can deliver as much sugar as a dessert.
- Beware the delayed hypoglycemia effect. Even if a drink does not spike blood sugar, alcohol’s suppression of liver glucose output can cause dangerous lows hours later, especially for people on diabetes medication.
Everyone’s glucose response is different. What spikes one person may be fine for another. Glycemic Snap uses AI to analyze photos of your meals and predict your glucose response, including a blood sugar curve prediction and personalized swap suggestions. Download for iOS or Android to discover your personal glycemic profile.
Related Resources
Track Your Personal Glucose Response
Everyone's glucose response is different. What spikes one person may be fine for another. Glycemic Snap uses AI to analyze photos of your meals and predict your glucose response, including a blood sugar curve prediction and personalized swap suggestions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does alcohol raise blood sugar?
It depends on the drink. Pure spirits (vodka, gin, whiskey) have essentially zero GI and zero carbs. Beer has a moderate GI (around 66) due to its maltose content. Sweet cocktails and mixers can have very high GI and sugar content. Wine is low GI (0-5) with minimal carbs.
Can alcohol cause low blood sugar?
Yes. Alcohol inhibits gluconeogenesis (the liver's ability to produce glucose). For people on insulin or sulfonylureas, drinking alcohol without food can cause dangerous hypoglycemia, sometimes hours after the last drink. Always eat when drinking if you take glucose-lowering medications.
Is beer or wine better for blood sugar?
Wine is significantly better for blood sugar than beer. Dry red and white wines have a GI of essentially 0 with only 2-4g of carbs per glass. Regular beer has a GI of around 66 with 13g of carbs per bottle. Light beer is moderate with about 6g of carbs.