Can You Drink Alcohol on the Ketogenic Diet?

The keto or ketogenic diet is a low carb, high fat diet that helps followers lose weight, maintain muscle mass, and improve overall health.

Keto requires individuals to plan their meals carefully and stick with a daily carb allotment in order to keep their bodies in the state of ketosis.

This typically means giving up unhealthy snacks, high-carb munchies, and sweet beverages such as soft drinks.

Now the real question is: can you drink alcohol on the Ketogenic diet?

The short answer to this query is YES. However, there’s more to this dilemma than a simple yes or no!

While most alcoholic beverages contain carbs in large quantities, some don’t. Opting for alcoholic drinks that contain a lower content of carbohydrates can help an individual remain within the limit of the ketogenic diet.

After conducting the relevant research and carrying out necessary comparisons, we have prepared this MINI-GUIDE to help you learn about some of the keto-friendly alcoholic beverages.

Moreover, we will also discuss the drinks you need to avoid due to their high carb and sugar content.

Let’s get started!

Keto-Friendly Alcoholic Beverages

Here is a list of some keto-friendly alcoholic options:

Spirits

Pure spirits such as vodka, brandy, gin, whisky, tequila, and rum contain zero grams of carbs.

You can consume these drinks while you are on the keto diet.

However, avoid adding juice or any other artificial sweeteners to your spirits!

Red Wine

All dry wines such as red and white wine fit well within the ketogenic diet.

They contain relatively fewer carbohydrates and the lowest sugar content.

Champagne

Sparkling wine or champagne contains about 4.68 grams of carbohydrates per glass.

So pop the bubbly and celebrate a special event with a low-carb toast!

Light Beer

While most cocktails and beer contain a lot of carbohydrates that might take your body out of ketosis, there are some lower carb options available.

For instance, light beer such as a pale lager only contains around 5.81 grams of carbohydrates per can.

Mixers

Keep an eye out for common mixers such as soda, juice, energy drinks, and sweeteners.

These deadly combinations can quickly convert a carb-free beverage into a high-calorie carbohydrate bomb.

Opt for mixers with lower carb content instead.

You can choose from options like seltzer, sugar-free tonic water, powdered flavor packets, or diet soda to keep your carb intake as low as possible while boosting the taste of your alcoholic beverage.

Alcoholic Beverages to Avoid

Below is a list of some alcoholic beverages that people following a ketogenic diet might wish to avoid:

Sangria

Usually, sangria contains fruit juice, a mixer, and wine. All these ingredients contain carbohydrates.

A single glass of sangria can contain an average of 18.9 grams of carbohydrates.

Wine Coolers

Wine coolers contain fruit juice which can contain high amounts of sugar.

One glass of wine cooler can contain an average of 13.6 grams of carbohydrates.

Cocktails

When you are under the ketogenic diet, you are required to keep your carb intake under 50 grams a day.

A sugary cocktail might contain approximately 46.67 grams of carbohydrates, which is almost the entire carb limit per day under keto.

Additionally, flavored alcoholic beverages such as peach schnapps also contain high quantities of sugar.

Beer

As mentioned earlier, a light beer is a better option for individuals on keto.

An average can of beer contains approximately 12.8 grams of carbs.

Other Factors to Consider

The main objective of individuals following keto is to keep their bodies in the state of ketosis. Following particular dietary guidelines is key to maintaining this vital state.

The diet can become ineffective if an individual fails to follow these guidelines.

Following the ketogenic diet religiously takes immense willpower and it is essential for keto-diet followers to have the ability to make difficult decisions.

Consuming alcohol can negatively affect the decision-making process for an individual.

It could make them decide to drink or eat something that doesn’t comply with their keto diet plan.

Therefore, it is best for individuals to avoid consuming alcohol if they believe that it can cause them to cheat on their diet.

Carbohydrates are known to reduce the effects of alcohol.

Hence, those following a ketogenic diet might feel more inebriated in a shorter amount of time as their bodies might not contain enough carbs to absorb the consumed alcohol.

Different Types of Alcohol & Mixers & Their Carb Content

Bottom Line

One common question that rises in every keto-follower’s mind is: can you drink alcohol on the ketogenic diet?

We hope with all the aforementioned information on the topic, we helped resolve your query.

While individuals on a keto diet have plenty of low-carb alcohol options to choose from, it’s best to stick to a maximum of one drink a day.

Remember, alcohol can affect willpower and judgment; therefore, it is best to keep your alcohol consumption in check at all times!