Long Island iced tea: nearly two drinks in one glass

We found no study of the Long Island iced tea itself, so what can be said comes from its parts and from agency advice on alcohol. The size of the glass matters most. The US dietary survey records one drink as 225 g, which by its recipe carries 23.4 g of alcohol and 241 calories. That is about 1.7 standard drinks by the US definition of 14 g of pure alcohol, calculated from one recipe and never measured in real bars, where pours vary. The WHO Regional Office for Europe says there is no safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health, and alcohol is classed as a Group 1 carcinogen. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans say to drink less, and to avoid alcohol completely if you are pregnant, are recovering from alcohol use disorder or cannot control how much you drink, or take medicines that interact with it. The CDC says there is no known safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy and no safe time to drink, that liquor can harm as much as wine or beer, and that drinking in pregnancy is linked to miscarriage, preterm birth and stillbirth. For driving, the CDC puts the legal limit at 0.08 g/dL in most US states and 0.05 g/dL in Utah, and says impairment starts below those levels. The US minimum legal drinking age is 21. Eating first changes how fast alcohol reaches the blood. In a randomized crossover trial in 21 adults, a full meal before a moderate dose of alcohol cut peak blood alcohol from 0.064% to 0.020% and the alcohol absorbed over 90 minutes by 67.9% compared with an empty stomach. A meal lowers the peak. It does not change any of the advice above.

As people eat it, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

How much is actually in it

• The US dietary survey recipe for a Long Island iced tea carries 10.4 g of alcohol and 107 calories per 3.5 oz (100 g), with 8.7 g of carbohydrate and 5 mg of caffeine from the cola. — Long Island iced tea, FNDDS code 93301360, a single recipe-based record (n = 1 recipe record, no measured samples) Evidence E source
  Per 100 g: alcohol 10.4 g; energy 107 calories; carbohydrate by difference 8.66 g; caffeine 5 mg

What a real portion looks like

• One drink is recorded as 225 g, which at the survey recipe gives 23.4 g of alcohol, 241 calories and 11 mg of caffeine, about 1.7 US standard drinks of 14 g. — household measures for Long Island iced tea in the USDA food and nutrient database for dietary studies (n = 3 household measures for FNDDS code 93301360) Evidence E source
  1 drink 225 g: alcohol 23.4 g, energy 240.8 calories, caffeine 11.2 mg, carbohydrate 19.5 g; 1 fl oz 30 g: alcohol 3.1 g; 23.4 g / 14 g = 1.7 standard drinks
• In the United States one standard drink holds about 14 g of pure alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. — US definition of a standard drink Evidence E source
  1 standard drink = about 14 g or 0.6 fl oz of pure alcohol

What your body absorbs

• In a randomized crossover trial in 12 adults, vodka mixed with diet cola raised peak breath alcohol to 38.3 against 34.8 micrograms per 3.4 fl oz (100 ml) with regular cola. — 12 healthy adults aged 19 to 64, vodka 0.5 g per kg body weight with regular or diet cola, two sessions (n = 12) Evidence B source
  Peak BrAC 38.3 +/- 9.45 vs 34.8 +/- 6.82 micrograms per 3.4 fl oz (100 ml); AUC 0-180 min 45249 vs 40439; gastric half-emptying 100 vs 111 min
• In a randomized crossover trial in 21 adults, eating a 635 calories meal before a moderate dose of alcohol cut peak blood alcohol from 0.064% to 0.020% and alcohol bioavailability by 68% compared with an empty stomach. — 21 overnight fasted healthy adults, alcohol 0.3 to 0.35 g per kg, four food conditions (n = 21) Evidence B source
  Peak BAC 0.064% fasting, 0.047% savory snack, 0.031% optimized bar, 0.020% full meal; 90-min bioavailability reduced 22.0%, 45.0% and 67.9%
• In a 4-way randomized crossover trial in 20 adults, a food bar or a control meal before vodka reduced alcohol absorption by about 30% compared with fasting. — 20 healthy adults, vodka 0.35 g per kg for men and 0.30 g per kg for women, four meal conditions, breath alcohol over 90 min (n = 20) Evidence B source
  Relative bioavailability (AUC 0-t) about 30% lower with the food bar or control meal than fasting

What it does to your health

• The WHO Regional Office for Europe says there is no safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health, and that alcohol is a toxic, dependence-producing substance classed as a Group 1 carcinogen. — general population Evidence E source
  No safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health; alcohol is an IARC Group 1 carcinogen

Safety, limits and interactions

• The US alcohol institute (NIAAA) warns that mixing alcohol with certain medicines can cause fainting, loss of coordination, internal bleeding, heart problems and breathing difficulties, and that small amounts of alcohol already make driving dangerous, more so with such medicines. — people who drink while taking medicines Evidence E source
  Nausea, vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, loss of coordination, internal bleeding, heart problems, breathing difficulties; greater driving risk
• The US alcohol institute (NIAAA) lists slowed or difficult breathing, impaired motor control and memory problems when alcohol is mixed with sleep medicines such as zolpidem, and an increased risk of overdose with anxiety drugs such as lorazepam or alprazolam. — people taking sleep medicines (zolpidem and others) or anxiety and epilepsy medicines (lorazepam, alprazolam, diazepam and others) Evidence E source
  Drowsiness, dizziness, slowed or difficult breathing, impaired motor control, memory problems; overdose risk with anxiety and epilepsy drugs
• The US alcohol institute (NIAAA) lists fast heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure, vomiting, headache and flushing as possible reactions when alcohol is mixed with infection medicines such as metronidazole, and liver damage with isoniazid or ketoconazole. — people taking antibiotics and antifungals listed under Infections, including metronidazole (Flagyl) Evidence E source
  Fast heartbeat, sudden blood pressure changes, stomach pain, vomiting, headache, flushing; liver damage with isoniazid or ketoconazole
• The US alcohol institute (NIAAA) lists stomach bleeding and ulcers, and liver damage with acetaminophen, as possible reactions when alcohol is mixed with pain relievers, and abnormally low blood sugar when it is mixed with diabetes medicines. — people taking pain relievers (including acetaminophen) or diabetes medicines (including metformin, glipizide) Evidence E source
  Pain relievers: stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers, liver damage with acetaminophen. Diabetes medicines: abnormally low blood sugar, flushing reaction
• The CDC says most US states set the legal blood alcohol limit for driving at 0.08 g/dL and Utah at 0.05 g/dL, that impairment starts at lower levels, and that 13,524 people were killed in 2022 in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. — US drivers Evidence E source
  Legal BAC limit 0.08 g/dL in most states, 0.05 g/dL in Utah; impairment starts below these limits; 13,524 deaths in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2022

Who this works differently for

• The CDC says there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy and no safe time to drink, that liquor is as able to cause harm as wine or beer, and that drinking in pregnancy is linked to miscarriage, preterm birth and stillbirth. — pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant Evidence E source
  No known safe amount, no safe time; all types of alcohol including liquor can harm; linked to FASDs, miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth
• The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans say to consume less alcohol for better overall health, and that pregnant women, people recovering from alcohol use disorder or unable to control how much they drink, and people on medicines that interact with alcohol should avoid it completely. — US adults, with named groups who should not drink at all Evidence E source
  Drink less. Avoid completely if pregnant, recovering from alcohol use disorder or unable to control intake, or on interacting medicines
• The US alcohol institute (NIAAA) says older people are at particularly high risk of harmful alcohol and medicine interactions, because aging slows the breakdown of alcohol and they more often take interacting medicines, and that such combinations can lead to falls. — older people Evidence E source
  Higher risk of harmful alcohol-medication interactions; alcohol stays in the system longer; more likely to take interacting medicines; falls and injuries
• The US alcohol institute (NIAAA) notes that the US minimum legal drinking age is 21, that the brain keeps developing into the 20s and alcohol can alter this, and that people who start drinking before 15 have a higher risk of alcohol use disorder later. — people under 21 in the United States Evidence E source
  Legal drinking age 21; brain develops into the 20s and alcohol can alter it; drinking before 15 linked to higher risk of alcohol use disorder
• In a trial in 14 men, 50 g of alcohol taken with 50 g of glucose raised the early insulin response and dropped blood glucose below 50 mg/dL (2.8 mmol/L) in 4 of them, unlike the same alcohol with starch. — 14 men aged 20 to 50 (9 normal weight, 5 obese), 50 g ethanol with 50 g glucose or starch over one hour (n = 14) Evidence B source
  Plasma glucose below 50 mg/dL (2.8 mmol/L) in 4 of 14 after glucose with alcohol; higher early insulin and lower later glucose than with starch and alcohol

The bottom line

The cola may matter. In a randomized crossover trial in 12 adults, vodka mixed with diet cola gave a peak breath alcohol of 38.3 micrograms per 3.4 fl oz (100 ml) against 34.8 with regular cola, and the abstract reports no test of significance. Per 100 g the survey recipe gives 10.4 g of alcohol, 107 calories, 8.7 g of carbohydrate and 5 mg of caffeine. A whole drink comes to 19.5 g of carbohydrate and 11 mg of caffeine. These are recipe calculations from a single record with no measured samples, and neither the US nor the UK composition tables list the cocktail. The meal effect held in a second trial. In a randomized crossover trial in 20 adults, a food bar or an ordinary meal eaten before vodka reduced alcohol absorption by about 30% compared with fasting, and the abstract gives no interval. In the 21 person trial a savory snack cut absorption by 22.0% and a commercial bar by 45.0%, so a real meal did the most. One small trial adds a caution about sugar taken with alcohol. In a trial in 14 men in 1984, 50 g of alcohol drunk with 50 g of glucose over an hour raised the early insulin response. Blood glucose fell below 50 mg/dL (2.8 mmol/L) in 4 of the 14, which did not happen with the same alcohol and starch. That is a little more alcohol than two drinks by the survey recipe, and the mixer was pure glucose, not cola and sour mix. Alcohol also interacts with common medicines. The US alcohol institute (NIAAA) lists slowed or difficult breathing with sleep medicines such as zolpidem, and a higher risk of overdose with anxiety drugs such as lorazepam or alprazolam. With metronidazole it lists fast heartbeat, sudden blood pressure changes, vomiting, headache and flushing, and with isoniazid, ketoconazole or acetaminophen, liver damage. With pain relievers it lists stomach bleeding and ulcers, and with diabetes medicines abnormally low blood sugar. Older people are at particularly high risk of these interactions, because aging slows the breakdown of alcohol, and the combinations can lead to falls. NIAAA also notes that the brain keeps developing into the 20s and alcohol can alter this, and that people who start drinking before 15 have a higher risk of alcohol use disorder later. In 2022, 13,524 people were killed in US crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers, by the CDC.

Sources

1. liit-daily-r7-01 · reference dataset
   Long Island iced tea (FNDDS 93301360, fdc_id 2710679) per 100 g - Alcohol, ethyl 10.4 G - Energy 107 KCAL - Carbohydrate, by difference 8.66 G - Caffeine 5 MG
   USDA FNDDS (FoodData Central, Survey), food code 93301360, fdc_id 2710679 · checked 2026-09-29
2. liit-daily-r7-02 · reference dataset
   Long Island iced tea (FNDDS 93301360) - 1 drink 225 g - Alcohol, ethyl 23.4 G - Energy 240.8 KCAL - Caffeine 11.2 MG - Carbohydrate, by difference 19.5 G | 1 fl oz 30 g - Alcohol, ethyl 3.1 G
   USDA FNDDS (FoodData Central, Survey), food code 93301360, fdc_id 2710679 · checked 2026-09-29
3. liit-daily-r7-03 · agency guidance
   In the United States, one standard drink contains about 14 grams, or about 0.6 fluid ounces, of pure alcohol.
   National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, What Is A Standard Drink? · checked 2026-09-29
4. liit-daily-r7-04 · randomized crossover trial
   They drank a standardised (0.5 g/kg body weight) volume of vodka (37.5 % ABV) over a time period of 1 minute in each session, prepared with either 'regular' coke with 35 g sugar in 330 mL or 'diet' coke with artificial sweetener which is aspartame. ... RESULTS: Diet coke increased both the peak BrAC (38.3 ± 9.45 vs. 34.8 ± 6.82 μg/100 mL) and the area under the breath ethanol curve between 0 and 180 minutes (45249.0 ± 95.7 vs. 40439.25 ± 72.5 μg·min/L).
   Toxicol Lett, 2025 · checked 2026-09-29
5. liit-daily-r7-05 · randomized crossover trial
   The pBAC of each group was different (P < .001) from all other groups (NF = 0.064 ± 0.003, SSM = 0.047 ± 0.002, RABB = 0.031 ± 0.002, MCM = 0.020 ± 0.002%; mean ± standard error of the mean). Furthermore, the bioavailability of alcohol over 90 minutes (BA90) was reduced compared to the NF group by similar margins (SSM = 22.0 ± 2.2, RABB = 45.0 ± 3.8, MCM = 67.9 ± 3.1%)
   J Med Food, 2020 · checked 2026-09-29
6. liit-daily-r7-06 · randomized crossover trial
   A four-way Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial enrolled twenty participants, incorporating four alcohol intake intervention, each with different meal conditions (fasting, OFBAR, control meal, full meal), randomized and alternated. ... Both OFBAR and the control meal reduced alcohol absorption by approximately 30% compared with fasting, as assessed by relative bioavailability based on area under curve (AUC0-t).
   An Acad Bras Cienc, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29
7. hf2-liit-10 · agency position
   The World Health Organization has now published a statement in The Lancet Public Health: when it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health. ... Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago
   WHO Regional Office for Europe, news release: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (4 January 2023) · checked 2026-10-08
8. hf2-liit-3 · agency advice
   Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination. It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. ... Small amounts of alcohol can make it dangerous to drive, and when you mix alcohol with certain medicines you put yourself at even greater risk.
   NIAAA, Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines (brochure, revised 2014) · checked 2026-10-08
9. hf2-liit-4 · agency advice
   Sleep problems Ambien® Zolpidem Drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems ... Anxiety and epilepsy Ativan® Lorazepam Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems
   NIAAA, Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines (brochure, revised 2014) · checked 2026-10-08
10. hf2-liit-5 · agency advice
    Fast heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; stomach pain, upset stomach, vomiting, headache, or flushing or redness of the face; liver damage (isoniazid, ketoconazole) Flagyl® Metronidazole
    NIAAA, Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines (brochure, revised 2014) · checked 2026-10-08
11. hf2-liit-6 · agency advice
    Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage (acetaminophen); rapid heartbeat ... Abnormally low blood sugar levels, flushing reaction (nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure); symptoms of nausea and weakness may occur (metformin)
    NIAAA, Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines (brochure, revised 2014) · checked 2026-10-08
12. hf2-liit-9 · agency advice
    Most states have set the legal BAC limit for driving at 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) ... the limit is 0.05 g/dL in Utah. However, impairment starts at lower BAC levels. ... In 2022, 13,524 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers
    US CDC, Impaired Driving: About (page reviewed January 28, 2026) · checked 2026-10-08
13. hf2-liit-1 · agency advice
    There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. ... There is no safe time during pregnancy to drink alcohol. ... All types of alcohol can be harmful, including red or white wine, beer, and liquor. ... Alcohol use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth, and
    US CDC, About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy (page reviewed August 14, 2026) · checked 2026-10-08
14. hf2-liit-2 · dietary guideline
    Consume less alcohol for better overall health. ... People who should completely avoid alcohol include pregnant women, people who are recovering from alcohol use disorder or are unable to control the amount they drink, and people taking medications or with medical conditions that can interact with alcohol.
    Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 (HHS, USDA), January 2026 · checked 2026-10-08
15. hf2-liit-7 · agency advice
    Combining alcohol with some medicines can lead to falls and serious injuries, especially among older people. ... Older people are at particularly high risk for harmful alcohol–medication interactions. Aging slows the body’s ability to break down alcohol, so alcohol remains in a person’s system longer. Older people also are more likely to take a medication that interacts with alcohol
    NIAAA, Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines (brochure, revised 2014) · checked 2026-10-08
16. hf2-liit-8 · agency advice
    Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life. ... Research shows that people’s brains keep developing well into their 20s. Alcohol can alter this development, potentially affected structure and function. ... keeping the U.S. Minimum Legal Drinking Age at 21
    NIAAA, Underage Drinking (fact sheet) · checked 2026-10-08
17. liit-daily-r7-07 · randomized trial
    When 14 men (9 normal weight and 5 obese) aged between 20 and 50 years consumed a 50 g glucose load together with 50 g ethanol over an hour, their early plasma insulin response was significantly higher and their later fall in plasma glucose significantly lower than after drinking the same amount of a starch solution (maize meal) and alcohol. In four subjects (3 of them non-obese) plasma glucose concentrations dropped below 2.8 mmol/l after drinking the glucose-alcohol solution.
    Alcohol Alcohol, 1984 · checked 2026-09-29