High Noon is one of the lighter alcoholic drinks you can choose, with 100 calories per 12-ounce can, no added sugar, and no artificial sweeteners. But “healthy” is relative when you’re talking about any alcoholic beverage. Compared to cocktails, beer, and wine, High Noon checks a lot of boxes for people trying to minimize the nutritional downsides of drinking. It’s not a health food, but it’s a reasonable pick if you’re going to drink.
Calories, Sugar, and What’s Inside
A standard 12-ounce can of High Noon contains 100 calories and 4.5% alcohol by volume, whether you go with the vodka or tequila line. That’s roughly the same calorie count as a light beer and significantly less than a glass of wine (around 120 to 130 calories) or a mixed drink, which can easily hit 200 to 400 calories depending on the mixer.
The ingredient list is short: real vodka or tequila, real fruit juice, sparkling water, and natural flavors. There’s no added sugar in any of the flavors. The tequila line contains about 2.6 grams of sugar per can, all of which comes from the fruit juice itself. That’s roughly half a teaspoon, which is negligible compared to most cocktails or flavored malt beverages. The vodka line appears similar. High Noon also skips artificial sweeteners and preservatives entirely, which sets it apart from some competitors that use sucralose or stevia to keep calories low.
How It Compares to Other Hard Seltzers
High Noon, White Claw, Truly, and Vizzy all land at about 100 calories per can. The biggest difference isn’t the calorie count. It’s what’s inside. White Claw and Truly are brewed from a fermented sugar or malt base, then flavored. High Noon starts with actual distilled spirits (vodka or tequila) and real fruit juice. For people who care about ingredient quality or want to avoid malt-based drinks, that distinction matters.
The alcohol content is also slightly lower. High Noon sits at 4.5% ABV, while White Claw and Truly come in at 5%. That’s a small gap per can, but it adds up over a few drinks. Higher-ABV versions like White Claw Surge and Truly Unruly jump to 8% ABV and 160 to 170 calories, making standard High Noon a notably lighter option by comparison.
Gluten-Free and Keto Compatibility
High Noon is gluten-free and considered safe for people with celiac disease. Because it’s made from distilled spirits rather than a malt base, there’s no gluten-containing grain in the final product. If you follow a keto or low-carb diet, the low sugar content (under 3 grams per can) makes it one of the more compatible alcoholic options available, though your body will still pause fat burning to metabolize the alcohol itself.
The Alcohol Still Counts
Clean ingredients and low calories don’t erase the effects of alcohol. At 4.5% ABV, a can of High Noon delivers roughly the same amount of alcohol as a standard light beer. That’s moderate, but the easy-drinking nature of hard seltzers makes it simple to go through several cans quickly without realizing how much you’ve consumed. Three cans puts you at 300 calories and the equivalent of three standard drinks.
Alcohol itself carries health effects that have nothing to do with sugar or calorie counts. It disrupts sleep quality, impairs recovery after exercise, and adds stress to your liver. Even moderate drinking has been linked to slightly increased cancer risk in large population studies. No amount of clean labeling changes the basic biology of how your body processes ethanol.
Where High Noon Fits In
If you’re choosing between a High Noon and a margarita, a craft IPA, or a rum and Coke, the seltzer wins on nearly every nutritional metric. Fewer calories, less sugar, lower alcohol content, simpler ingredients. If you’re choosing between a High Noon and sparkling water, the sparkling water is obviously the healthier pick.
High Noon works well for people who want to drink socially without the calorie load of beer or cocktails, who avoid gluten, or who prefer knowing exactly what’s in their can. It’s about as close to a “clean” alcoholic drink as the market offers right now. Just don’t mistake a better option for a good-for-you option. The healthiest number of alcoholic drinks is still zero, but if that’s not your goal, High Noon is a solid harm-reduction choice.