Alcohol — Top Food Sources, Daily Requirements

Ethanol content. The body processes alcohol at about one standard drink per hour. Provides 7 calories per gram with no nutritional benefit.

No established daily requirement for this nutrient.

Top Foods Highest in Alcohol

Amount per 100g serving. Values in g per 100g.

Foods Highest in Alcohol (Table)

#	Food	Per 100g	Group
1	Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey	42.5 g	Beverages
2	Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey	39.7 g	Beverages
3	Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey	37.9 g	Beverages
4	Alcoholic beverage, distilled, whiskey, 86 proof	36.0 g	Beverages
5	Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey	36.0 g	Beverages
6	Vanilla extract	34.4 g	Spices and Herbs
7	Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey	33.4 g	Beverages
8	Alcoholic beverage, distilled, rum, 80 proof	33.4 g	Beverages
9	Alcoholic beverage, distilled, vodka, 80 proof	33.4 g	Beverages
10	Vanilla extract, imitation, alcohol	32.9 g	Spices and Herbs
11	Alcoholic beverage, creme de menthe, 72 proof	29.8 g	Beverages
12	Alcoholic beverage, liqueur, coffee, 63 proof	26.0 g	Beverages
13	Alcoholic beverage, daiquiri, prepared-from-recipe	23.1 g	Beverages
14	Alcoholic beverage, liqueur, coffee, 53 proof	21.7 g	Beverages
15	Alcoholic beverage, rice (sake)	16.1 g	Beverages
16	Alcoholic beverage, wine, dessert, dry	15.3 g	Beverages
17	Alcoholic beverage, whiskey sour, prepared with water, whisk	14.6 g	Beverages
18	Alcoholic beverage, whiskey sour, prepared from item 14028	14.5 g	Beverages
19	Alcoholic beverage, whiskey sour	14.1 g	Beverages
20	Alcoholic beverage, liqueur, coffee with cream, 34 proof	13.8 g	Beverages

Health Effects of Alcohol

Function

Alcohol (ethanol) provides energy (7 kcal/g) but is not an essential nutrient. Low-to-moderate intake has been associated with cardiovascular benefits in some studies, though this is increasingly questioned.

Deficiency Signs

Not applicable; alcohol is not a nutrient.

Excess / Toxicity

Alcohol excess causes liver disease (fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis), cardiomyopathy, pancreatitis, neurological damage, and increased cancer risk (especially breast, colorectal, liver, oropharyngeal). It impairs absorption of thiamin, folate, B12, and zinc.

Absorption & Interactions

How It’s Absorbed

Rapidly absorbed from the stomach (20%) and small intestine (80%). Metabolized primarily by alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver at a fixed rate of about 7-10g per hour.

Key Interactions

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Thiamin (B1) Inhibitor

Chronic alcohol intake severely impairs thiamin absorption and metabolism, leading to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

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Folate (B9) Inhibitor

Alcohol inhibits folate absorption, increases urinary folate excretion, and impairs folate-dependent methionine synthesis

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Zinc Inhibitor

Alcohol increases urinary zinc excretion and impairs zinc absorption; alcoholics are commonly zinc-deficient

Other Other

Frequently Asked Questions

How much Alcohol do I need per day?

There is no established daily requirement for Alcohol.

Which food has the most Alcohol?

The food highest in Alcohol is Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 100 proof with 42.5 g per 100g.

What does Alcohol do in the body?

Ethanol content. The body processes alcohol at about one standard drink per hour. Provides 7 calories per gram with no nutritional benefit.