Alcohol and weight loss?

Successful weight loss is all about burning, more calories than you take in. In an effort to save calories when we go on a diet, many of us choose lower-calorie alcoholic drinks, mainly because they contain fewer alcohol calories than their regular counterparts.

However, drinking too much has a far more damaging effect than you can imagine by increasing caloric intake but also by reducing the number of fat calories you burn. Alcohol can increase your appetite for up to 24 hours after you finish drinking.

Research reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition studied the effect on metabolism in adult men. Each was given two drinks of vodka and sugar-free lemonade separated by 30 minutes. Each drink contained just under 90 calories. Fat metabolism was measured before and after consumption of the drink. For several hours after drinking the vodka, fat metabolism dropped by 73%.
The way your body responds to alcohol is very similar to the way it deals with excess carbohydrate.

The combination of alcohol and a high-calorie meal is especially fattening, mainly because alcohol acts as a potent appetizer. A Canadian study shows that an aperitif increased calorie intake to a greater extent than a non-alcoholic beverage.

Researchers from Denmark's Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University report similar results. When a group of men was given a meal and allowed to eat as much as they wanted, they ate more when the meal was served with beer or wine rather than a soft drink.

Alcohol suppresses the number of fat calories your body burns for energy much more than meals rich in protein, carbohydrate, or fat. While an occasional drink isn't going to do much damage, consistent alcohol intake will reduce overall lean muscle mass having a significant effect in lowering the metabolism