Most hard liquors are similar in nutritional content. It is what you mix with your drinks that can affect your calorie consumption. When you know more about mixers, you can make smarter drinking choices.
Liquor
Most vodkas and rums that are 80 proof contain about 70 calories per 1 oz. serving. They contain minimal to no traces of fat, protein, carbohydrates, fiber or sugar.
Considerations
Your mixing ingredient has the power to make your drink higher or lower in calories. Classic Coke provides an additional 100 calories in 8 oz., tonic water packs 80 calories per 8 oz. and club soda has zero calories.
Size
The amount of calories you consume during a night will depend on the size of your drinks and the quantity you imbibe. A drink that is a "double" packs in 140 calories in liquor. A Long Island iced tea with four shots of alcohol (rum, vodka, tequila and gin) provides a whopping 300 calories in only 5 oz.
Effects
The calories in alcoholic beverages are referred to as empty calories because they provide no other nutritional benefits, like vitamins or protein. When you consume more calories than you burn, you gain weight.
Standards
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as two drinks a day for men and one drink for women. One drink equals 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1 1/2 oz. of liquor.