Being a dietitian for nearly 10 years, I have heard all of the excuses from my clients about giving up or reducing alcohol. I have come across many people who believe that ordering liquor with a calorie-free mixer is low in calories. Yes, I will very much agree that it is probably half or more than half of what is in a sugary margarita, daiquiri, or beer, however the calories are still adding up.
There are more calories per gram of alcohol than there are in carbohydrates and protein. Carbohydrates and protein carry 4 calories per gram, while alcohol, yes even in your vodka soda, carry 7 calories per gram. So let's say you drink 5 vodka sodas the whole night. If one drink has a shot and a half (1.5 ounces of vodka), that's about 43 grams of vodka per drink, totaling to be about 300 calories for that drink (43 grams multiplied by 7 calories/gram.) Yes ladies, 5 drinks later you will be consuming 1500 calories. And that is just plain vodka... not including all that those sugary (and high calorie!) bubble-gum or blueberry flavors! I don't know about you, but I think I will stick to my sparkling water with lime!