Just in time for some Aussies to run to the nearest pub to celebrate newfound freedom, Australian nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo shares her guide to the lowest-calorie drinks.

The clinical food expert advised those who want to lose lockdown weight without abstaining from alcohol to just order a gin or vodka mixed with soda water. The two drink mixes only contain 83 calories per glass.

She also advised that wine lovers can save half their usual intake by switching to champagne since a glass of red or white wine contains an average of 160 calories while a glass of champagne only has 77 calories.

The nutritionist also includes a 60-calorie tequila shot, which she personally calls a ‘dieter’s best friend’, to the list of acceptable alcoholic drinks for weight-conscious Aussies.

Now that we know some of the lowest-calorie drinks, what drinks should we avoid?

The expert said that alcoholic drinks laced with sugary additives such as spirits mixed with soft drinks are the drinks you should look out for if you're trying to lose weight. She also credits cocktails as the 'worst offender of all'.

However, there’s an exception to the ‘no sugary additives’ rule as Ms Di Lorenzo recommends the fruity-drink Aperol Spritz, which only contains 125 calories per glass, which she credits as a better alternative to wine.

Ms Di Lorenzo told 7News: ‘alcohol is a way of life for many and it's important to be realistic’.

'Match each alcoholic drink with a glass of water...being hydrated will also help minimise the craving for hangover food the next day.'

If you’re serious about keeping your health and weight in check, however, Ms Di Lorenzo advised that it is better to abstain from alcohol for four or five nights a week instead of opting for low-calorie drinks. Staying sober would allow your liver to rest and prevent fluid retention.

Lockdowns provoked Australians to drink more than they should

An alarming number of Australians have spiralled into heavy drinking due to the restrictions imposed for more than 18 months.

In fact, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that Aussies spent a whopping $2 billion more than their usual spending on booze last year.

On average, drinkers spent $1891 per household on alcohol in 2020.

Further, a survey from the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association revealed that a surge in alcohol demand from locked-down residents has made booze a ‘lot more’ as a drug of concern.

Almost 2 Million Australians are veering away from booze

On a positive note, 28.9 per cent of Australians are abstaining from alcohol, while a further 9.5 per cent are drinking less than they were this time last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

An increase of 0.4 million Australians abstained from alcohol; jumping from 1.5 million to 1.9 million ex-drinkers.

The increasing rate of Aussies switching to a sober lifestyle was fuelled by online influencers including 30-year old fitness mogul Kayla Itsines who claims that she has not touched a drop of alcohol since the age of 19.

Businesses are taking notes, with the nation's first-ever non-alcoholic bar Brunswick Aces opening its doors in Melbourne on May 1. The non-alcoholic bar will include more than 100 alcohol-free beers, wines and cocktails in its menu.

Will you follow these alcohol tips? Tell us in the comments below!

This article is based on an article written by Alice Murphy for Daily Mail Australia.