1. Alternate alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks to save calories. It's also a good idea to start your night off with a glass of water so you can stay hydrated and not use cocktails to quench your thirst.
2. Choose wine, light beer, or simple cocktails made with low-calorie mixers. Mix cocktails with water, club soda, low calorie juices, artificial sweeteners or sugar-free syrups for easy calorie savings.
3. Skip the mixer altogether. Try ordering your favorite spirit or one of the new flavored liquors on the rocks.
4. Dilute your drink. Another option is diluting your drink with club soda or sparkling water. Wine spritzers are a low-calorie standby. And if you usually drink vodka and cranberry, for example, try it with club soda, just a splash of cranberry juice, and a squeeze of lime. Garnish with a wedge of citrus or pineapple to add flavor and few calories.
5. Have a game plan. Before you head out for a night on the town, determine how many drinks you're going to drink and stick to that. It's easy to get caught up in having a good time once you catch a buzz and drink more than you intended. If you're going to have 2 or 3 drinks, stick to that.
