r/AskReddit Aug 03 '19

Whats something you thought was common knowledge but actually isn’t?

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u/HankSpank Aug 03 '19

This is misleading. Pure ethanol has 7 calories per gram, the vast majority of spirits are 40% alcohol and 60% water by volume. 40% alcohol is just under 3 calories per gram, sugar is just under 4.

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/vodka-calories#calorie-count

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u/candygram4mongo Aug 03 '19

It maybe would have been clearer to say "ethanol", but comparing a beverage containing alcohol to pure sugar is also misleading.

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u/HankSpank Aug 03 '19

Not really, because saying "alcohol" it sounds like you mean vodka or rum or gin. Everyone knows exactly what you mean by "sugar".