Dieting can be very difficult, especially when it isn’t possible to enjoy your favorite beverages. With a program that uses SmartPoints, however, you can still enjoy a nice glass of wine in the evenings — as long as you properly account for the points.
Most wines contains 1 SmartPoint per ounce, making a glass of wine equal to 4–5 SmartPoints, depending on how much you pour. It’s also possible to find diet wines that are designed to contain fewer points — usually around 3 points per serving.
Familiarizing yourself with how many points are in a glass of wine — and other popular drinks — will help you keep to your diet even when you’re out on the town. Let’s take a closer at how many SmartPoints are in wine as well as some other common alcoholic beverages.
How Many Weight Watchers Points Are in a Glass of Wine?
The amount of Weight Watchers point per glass of wine will vary based on the type of wine you are drinking as well as the size glass of wine you poured. The average glass of wine is about 4 or 5 ounces.
Although the number of points do vary from glass of wine to glass of wine, the total is usually between 4 and 5. So, as a rule of thumb, you can assume that each ounce of wine you drink is about 1 point.
If you aren’t sure how large your glass of wine is, it’s best to round up and just assume your glass of wine is worth 5 SmartPoints.
What Is the Serving Size of Wine?
A standard serving size of wine is either 4 or 5 ounces. This means that one bottle of wine will typically yield 5–6 servings. If your bottle of wine isn’t producing that many servings, then you’re probably pouring too much in each glass!
A good way to measure a serving of wine is to use a half-cup measuring cup. Four ounces is half a cup, so you’ll get the exact amount of wine in a single serving — and you can count it as 4 points.
White vs. Red
Red wine technically has a higher caloric value than white wine, but white wine also has a bit more sugar. The point value of the two types of wine therefore ends up being about the same.
So, whether you want to pour yourself a glass of red, white, or maybe even bubbly, you can count on the glass of wine being worth about 1 point per ounce of wine.
Are There Any Wines With a Lower Point Value?
If you want a glass of wine but you don’t want to allot 4 points to it, then it may be worthwhile to invest in some diet wines. There are many brands of diet wines, including some made by Weight Watchers, that have a lower point value per ounce.
The Weight Watchers brand of wine has one less point per glass because the wine is lower in calories. This means you only need to allot 3 points per 4-ounce glass. These diet wines also usually have a lower alcohol concentration than other types of wines.
Which Alcoholic Drinks Have the Lowest Point Value?
While it’s generally a good idea to try to avoid drinking while you’re losing weight, there may come a time when you want to treat yourself to a drink. An occasional glass won’t ruin your diet, especially if you choose an alcoholic beverage with a low point value like those on this list.
Light Beers
Light beers are an easy pick when you are trying to keep your points from stacking up. Depending on the brand you choose, the average light beer is 3–4 smart points for a 12-ounce serving.
Corona Light, Michelob Ultra, and Sam Adams Light are all 3 points for every 12 ounces. Bud Light and Dos Equis are 4 points for every 12 ounces. If you don’t see the beer you plan to order on this list, it’s a good idea to check your points app before opening the beer.
Liquors
It’s also possible to enjoy some liquor while watching your weight. The best way to do so is by enjoying your liquor on the rocks with no mixers.
The point value of liquor depends on what you choose, but the average whiskey on the rocks will cost you about 3 SmartPoints. Rum, Vodka, Gin, and Tequila are all also 3 points for each 1.5-ounce serving. Just be careful that you don’t let the bartender pour your drink too heavy!
Low-Sugar Mixed Drinks
It can be difficult to drink liquor straight — and technically you don’t have to, as long as you account for the points of the mixer you choose. Diet coke and club soda are good mixers because they won’t add any points, but they’ll improve the taste of your drink.
If you want something like a margarita, you can order tequila with Sprite zero and a squeeze of lime. This will give you a similar flavor, but keep your points at 3 for every 1.5 ounces of tequila. Be cautious, however, as many bars use lime juice in drinks (instead of fresh lime). Lime juice has sugar in it and will quickly increase your points per beverage.
If you really want a bit of a sweeter drink, ginger beer and cranberry juice can help add a little sweetness without busting your points. Either of these options will still add about 2 points to your drink, but if you’re missing your Moscow Mule or Vodka Cran, it might be worth it!
Just be sure you don’t actually order a mixed drink when you go out. These beverages are full of sugar and will easily cost you upwards of 15 points per beverage.
Final Thoughts
Overall, when you order a glass of wine (or pour one yourself) you’re looking at 4–5 SmartPoints. While the exact amount of smart points will vary somewhat according to the wine, you can be fairly precise by measuring your wine pour and calculating one point per ounce.
If you don’t want wine, you can also enjoy light beer or modified mixed cocktails in moderation without racking up the points!