Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, compared with 4 calories per gram of protein or carbohydrate and 9 calories per gram of fat. Some wines provide small amounts of iron and potassium, and beer contains niacin, vitamins B6, chromium and phosphorus. But to benefit from the nutrients in these beverages, you would have to consume much more than the recommended limit of two drinks per day for a man or one for a woman. Each beverage that follows provide about 15 mL of ethanol, the usual definition of a drink. (Note that the calorie amounts for beer and wine vary depending on the type.)

Did you know? The average Canadian adult gets 21 percent of their total daily calories from beverages!