Key takeaways
- Vodka and gin average 0.8g and 0.0g of carbs per pour in the catalog, so a spirit with soda water is the simplest order.
- Hard seltzer averages 2.2g and canned cocktails 14.0g per serving, with a wide spread.
- The average wine pour lists 4.6g; the average beer lists 13.2g.
The easiest low-carb order on a plane is a spirit with soda water and a lime, followed by dry wine or a low-carb canned option. Airline menus are short and mixers are usually juice, tonic or cola, so asking for soda water is the key move. Numbers below are live catalog data; airline pours and mixers differ.
Spirit and soda
Distilled spirits list 0g or close to it, and soda water adds none. Compare how the common spirits line up:
| Type | Drinks | Avg calories | Avg carbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 84 | 94 | 0.8g |
| Gin | 59 | 108 | 0.0g |
| Tequila | 113 | 98 | 0.0g |
| Whiskey | 205 | 109 | 0.5g |
| Rum | 115 | 102 | 0.8g |
| Hard Seltzer | 301 | 105 | 2.2g |
| Wine | 274 | 117 | 4.6g |
| Beer | 863 | 167 | 13.2g |
The low-sugar mixers guide covers what to ask for instead of juice or regular tonic.
Wine
Small-format wine is common in flight. Dry styles list the fewest carbs:
| Drink | Type | Serving | Carbs | Calories | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champagne Lallier R.015 | Wine | 5oz | 0.0g | 111 | 12.5% |
| Champagne Lallier Ouvrage Grand Cru | Wine | 5oz | 0.0g | 114 | 12.5% |
| Champagne Lallier Brut Rose Grand Cru | Wine | 5oz | 0.0g | 115 | 12.5% |
| Champagne Lallier Blanc de Blancs | Wine | 5oz | 0.0g | 115 | 12.5% |
| Champagne Lallier Millésimé 2012 Grand Cru | Wine | 5oz | 0.0g | 115 | 12.5% |
| Champagne Lallier R.018 | Wine | 5oz | 0.0g | 115 | 12.5% |
Canned options
If you choose a canned drink, compare the cans. Lowest-carb hard seltzers and canned cocktails in the catalog:
| Drink | Type | Serving | Carbs | Calories | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dos Equis Ranch Water Lime Seltzer | Hard Seltzer | 12oz | 0.0g | 90 | 4.5% |
| Corona Hard Seltzer Tropical Lime | Hard Seltzer | 12oz | 0.0g | 90 | 4.5% |
| Corona Hard Seltzer Mango | Hard Seltzer | 12oz | 0.0g | 90 | 4.5% |
| Corona Hard Seltzer Cherry | Hard Seltzer | 12oz | 0.0g | 90 | 4.5% |
| Corona Hard Seltzer Blackberry Lime | Hard Seltzer | 12oz | 0.0g | 90 | 4.5% |
| Nude Vodka Soda Grapefruit | Hard Seltzer | 12oz | 0.0g | 100 | 5.0% |
| Drink | Type | Serving | Carbs | Calories | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Daniel's & Coca-Cola Zero Sugar | Canned Cocktail | 12oz | 0.0g | 140 | 7.0% |
| Cacti Agave Spiked Seltzer Lime | Canned Cocktail | 12oz | 0.0g | 150 | 7.0% |
| Cacti Agave Spiked Seltzer Pineapple | Canned Cocktail | 12oz | 0.0g | 150 | 7.0% |
| Cacti Agave Spiked Seltzer Strawberry | Canned Cocktail | 12oz | 0.0g | 150 | 7.0% |
| Ranch Rider Ranch Water | Canned Cocktail | 12oz | 0.0g | 119 | 6.0% |
| Ranch Rider Jalapeño Ranch Water | Canned Cocktail | 12oz | 0.0g | 119 | 6.0% |
The hard seltzer guide has more. Check the airline rules on outside drinks before you rely on any can.
Mixed drinks to skip
Juice-based and sweet mixed drinks list more:
| Drink | Type | Serving | Carbs | Calories | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bee's Knees | Cocktail | 3.5oz | 15.0g | 190 | 24.0% |
| Bacardi Island Punch Ready to Serve | Cocktail | 5oz | 15.1g | 166 | 12.5% |
| Classic Daiquiri | Cocktail | 3.8oz | 15.8g | 221 | 26.3% |
| Last Word | Cocktail | 3.5oz | 16.0g | 215 | 27.0% |
| Pisco Sour | Cocktail | 4oz | 16.0g | 200 | 22.0% |
| Gold Rush | Cocktail | 3oz | 16.0g | 200 | 26.0% |
An in-flight order checklist
- Ask for a spirit with soda water and lime.
- Skip juice, regular tonic and sweet mixes.
- Prefer dry wine over sweet styles.
- Know your pour: a standard drink is 1.5 oz of spirits.
- Browse the zero-carb and under 100 calories lists before you travel.
How to read the numbers
Figures are rescaled to the serving shown, so compare the Serving column. Airline mixers and pours will differ. The methodology page has the details.
This page is information, not medical advice. The CDC defines moderate drinking as up to two drinks a day for men and one for women when adults choose to drink, and says that drinking less is better for health than drinking more.
Frequently asked questions
What is a low-carb drink to order on a plane?
A spirit with soda water, or a dry wine. Plain spirits list 0g or close to it in the catalog; the mixer is what adds carbs.
Are canned cocktails or hard seltzers a good in-flight option?
Some are. The tables above list the lowest-carb canned cocktails and seltzers, and the range is wide, so read the can.
Can I bring my own drinks on board?
Rules vary by airline, country and route, and airlines generally serve their own alcohol. Check with your airline before you travel; this guide does not give rules.
Is tomato juice or a Bloody Mary low carb?
Check the catalog row where a Bloody Mary is listed; recipes and mixes vary, so ask what the mix contains.
How do I keep the order simple?
Ask for a spirit, a can of soda water and a lime or lemon wedge. That avoids juice and syrup.
Is this medical advice?
No. This page is information, not medical advice. The CDC says that drinking less is better for health than drinking more.
Sources
Drink-specific numbers come from the DrinkLeader catalog and change as products are re-verified.