Alcohol Eats Away at Muscle Mass If increasing muscle mass and getting in better shape is one of your goals then think twice before you go out for a night of heavy drinking. Calories add up fast as 12 ounces of beer equals 150 calories, 5 ounces of wine equals 100 calories, and 1.5-ounces of distilled spirits equals 100 calories. Consuming alcohol in large quantities has a direct effect on your metabolism, causing fat to be stored instead of being utilized as an energy source. Alcohol contains seven “empty” calories per gram, meaning that these calories don’t provide you with any of the essential nutrients you need to build that muscle mass you desire. Alcohol also hinders the body's ability to repair itself at night and therefore you don't recover as quickly and are more likely to be injured during workouts. No matter what kind of alcohol you drink..it's still alcohol and it will slow your entire system down including your metabolism and your body's [...]