Who’s the winner in the liquor vs non-alcoholic beverages health contest? Decide for yourself.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has calculated the nutritional content of beverages.

Liquor (distilled spirits) includes tequila, whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, brandy, etc. Virtually all are 80 proof or 40% alcohol. They contain no carbs, fats, cholesterol, sugars, or sodium.

CALORIES

The USDA reports there are 97 calories in a serving of any 80 proof distilled spirit. It also lists the caloric contents of a serving of each of these non-alcoholic beverages.

With 97 calories, liquor has fewer calories than all but two of these non-alcoholic beverages.

CARBS

Distilled spirits also have no carbs. What about the other beverages? There’s no contest with any of them. These are their carb contents in grams.

FATS

Distilled spirits have no fats. The other beverages? Here’s the listing of their fats in grams.

Only cola competes with spirits in the category of fats. And with no fats, there is no cholesterol in either cola or spirits.

SUGARS

Distilled spirits have no sugars. Not so for the other beverages.

SODIUM

Distilled spirits have no sodium (salt). This is the listing for other beverages. The sodium content is in milligrams.

Liquor vs Non-Alcoholic Beverages: The Winner?

Most noteworthy, the US federal government has determined that the moderate consumption of alcohol is linked with better health and longer life than abstaining from it.

So consider the contents of the various beverages. Examine calories, carbs, fats, sugars and salt content. Then you decide the winner in the liquor vs non-alcoholic beverages health contest.