Margaritas are a popular tequila-based cocktail that are often consumed in excess, especially during celebrations like Cinco de Mayo. But with their sweet flavor profile, it can be easy to overlook how calorie-dense and unhealthy they are. Here’s a deeper look at the nutritional content of margaritas and just how unhealthy excessive indulgence can be.
Calorie and Sugar Content
A standard margarita made with 2 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of orange liqueur, and 1 ounce of lime juice contains about 168 calories. This is just for a single margarita without any added sugar or sweeteners. Many restaurants and bars will add sugary mixes or use pre-made sour mixes full of added sugars, which boosts the calorie count significantly.
One 12-ounce pre-made margarita mix contains around 400 calories. Adding triple sec or agave nectar will also pile on more calories from sugar. A huge 32-ounce restaurant-style margarita made with these sugary mixes can have over 800 calories. To put that into perspective, that’s nearly half of the daily recommended calorie intake for most women.
Calories in Common Margarita Variations
| Margarita Variation | Calories (12 oz) |
|---|---|
| Margarita on the rocks | ~400 |
| Frozen margarita | ~500-700 |
| Flavored margarita (mango, strawberry) | ~500-600 |
| Cadillac/premium margarita | ~700 |
As you can see, most typical margarita variations contain high amounts of empty calories and sugar due to added liqueurs, syrups, sweet-and-sour mixes, and fruit purees. A 32-ounce frozen strawberry margarita at a chain restaurant might have over 1300 calories!
Alcohol Content
In addition to calories, the alcohol itself provides 7 calories per gram with no nutritional benefit. A standard margarita made with 2 ounces of tequila contains about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.
This might not seem like much, but drink a 32-ounce margarita in one sitting and you’ll be consuming 3-4 ounces of alcohol – about 2-3 standard shots worth. Even without added sugars and mixers, the alcohol content itself makes up a good portion of a margarita’s calories.
Approximate Alcohol Content of Margarita Variations
| Margarita Variation | Alcohol Content |
|---|---|
| 12 oz margarita on the rocks | 1.5 oz (1 shot) |
| 12 oz frozen margarita | 1-1.5 oz (1 shot) |
| 20 oz frozen margarita | 2.5-3 oz (2 shots) |
| 32 oz fishbowl margarita | 4-5 oz (3-4 shots) |
It’s easy to underestimate the amount of alcohol in sugary, slushy margarita variations. Chugging a huge 32-ounce fishbowl margarita can give you the same amount of alcohol as drinking a small bottle of wine!
Margaritas Can Lead to Excess Calorie Consumption
Another reason margaritas are so unhealthy is that they go down easily, especially in frozen slushy form. Before you know it, you might consume 1,000+ empty calories without feeling full at all. Here are some other reasons why it’s easy to drink too many margarita calories:
- Sweet, fruity flavors mask the taste of alcohol
- Served in huge portions at restaurants
- Often made and consumed rapidly during parties or celebrations
- Thick, frozen consistency makes them easy to gulp or slurp quickly
- Tempting Happy Hour deals encourage ordering more rounds
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the occasional margarita, but it’s clear that frequently consuming huge, high-calorie frozen margaritas can sabotage anyone’s healthy diet.
Nutritional Impact of 1 Month of Daily Margaritas
To demonstrate just how unhealthy excessive margarita drinking can be, let’s consider this hypothetical scenario:
John drinks one 32-oz restaurant-style frozen margarita every day for a month. The margaritas contain approximately:
- 800 calories
- 140g carbs
- 4-5 oz of alcohol
Over 30 days, John would consume:
- 24,000 extra calories from margaritas alone
- 4,200 grams of sugar – over 10 lbs worth!
- 90 ounces of tequila – a full liter bottle’s worth
Those numbers paint a clear picture of just how fattening and unhealthy excessive margarita consumption can become over time.
Health Risks of Heavy Margarita Consumption
Frequently indulging in large frozen margaritas doesn’t just impact your waistline – it can also take a toll on your overall health and well-being:
Weight Gain
With a massive amount of empty calories and sugar, routinely drinking margaritas can easily lead to quick weight gain. Excess calories are stored as fat, which over time increases your risk for obesity.
Blood Sugar Issues
The tremendous amount of sugar from mixes, liqueurs, and fruit purees can rapidly spike blood sugar. In those predisposed to diabetes, this can increase the risk for developing the disease.
Liver Damage
Excessive alcohol intake stresses the liver. Habitually overdrinking margaritas can contribute to fatty liver disease and cirrhosis over time.
Other Issues
Some other negative health impacts linked to heavy margarita consumption include:
- High blood pressure
- Diminished immunity
- Poor sleep quality
- Low energy and constant fatigue
- Hormonal issues
- Memory and cognition problems
Strategies for Healthier Margarita Consumption
You don’t have to give up margaritas entirely if you enjoy them. Here are some tips for keeping your margarita habit relatively healthy:
Avoid Pre-Made Mixes and Sweeteners
Make your margaritas from scratch using fresh lime juice, 100% agave tequila, and minimal orange liqueur. Skip the sweet-and-sour mixes full of corn syrup and added sugars.
Use Smaller Glasses
Don’t drink margaritas out of huge 32-oz fishbowls. Stick to a standard cocktail glass size of around 8-12 ounces.
Add Sparkling Water
Cut down on calories by adding some zero-calorie sparkling water. It also dilutes the sweetness.
Eat Full Meals
Never drink margaritas on an empty stomach. The food helps slow absorption of alcohol and sugars.
Limit Your Intake
Try to stick to just 1-2 margaritas in a sitting and don’t go overboard. Pace yourself and drink some water between margaritas.
The Bottom Line
Margaritas certainly aren’t the worst cocktail choice from a nutritional standpoint, but the high natural sugar content paired with commonly added sweeteners can rack up the calories. Excessive intake is associated with weight gain, blood sugar problems, liver issues, and other health risks.
Practicing moderation by limiting portion sizes, avoiding sugary add-ins, and not overindulging is key to keeping your margarita habit from becoming unhealthy.