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Alcohol Unit Calculator
Calculate the number of alcohol units in any drink based on volume and ABV percentage. Find standard drink equivalents, compare to weekly safe drinking guidelines, and understand the alcohol content in beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails.
One UK alcohol unit = 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol. One US standard drink = 14g pure alcohol. Understanding units helps you track alcohol intake against health guidelines — UK recommends no more than 14 units per week. This calculator works for any drink from light beer to strong cocktails.
Formula
Units (UK) = Volume (ml) × ABV% / 1000 | US Standard Drinks = Volume (oz) × ABV% / 0.6 | Pure Alcohol (g) = Volume (ml) × ABV% × 0.789 / 100
Alcohol Units by Drink Type
Alcohol content varies enormously by drink type, serving size, and brand. Understanding units helps you make informed decisions about alcohol consumption and stay within recommended health guidelines.
Drink
UK Units
US Equivalents
Regular beer (5%, pint 568ml)
2.8 UK units
1.9 US standard drinks
Strong beer (7.5%, pint)
4.2 UK units
2.9 US standard drinks
Wine (13%, 175ml glass)
2.3 UK units
1.6 US standard drinks
Wine (13%, 250ml large glass)
3.25 UK units
2.2 US standard drinks
Single spirits (40%, 25ml)
1.0 UK unit
0.7 US standard drinks
Double spirits (40%, 50ml)
2.0 UK units
1.4 US standard drinks
Champagne (12%, 125ml flute)
1.5 UK units
1.0 US standard drinks
Cocktail (varies widely)
1-3+ UK units
Depends on recipe
Safe Drinking Guidelines
UK Chief Medical Officers guidance: no more than 14 UK units per week, spread over 3 or more days, with several alcohol-free days. 14 units = 6 pints of average beer or 10 small glasses of wine. US Dietary Guidelines: up to 1 standard drink/day for women, up to 2 for men (moderate drinking). There is no completely safe level — guidelines indicate low-risk levels, not risk-free.
How the Body Processes Alcohol
The liver processes approximately 1 UK unit (10ml pure alcohol) per hour. Factors affecting BAC: body weight (heavier = lower BAC), sex (women typically reach higher BAC than men at same intake), food consumption (food slows absorption), and hydration. After 2 UK units, cognitive function begins to be affected. At 4-5 units, driving is significantly impaired. Heavy episodic drinking damages the liver regardless of total weekly units.
Frequently Asked Questions
A standard 750ml bottle of wine at 13% ABV contains: 750 × 13 / 1000 = 9.75 UK units or approximately 6.5 US standard drinks. At 14% ABV: 10.5 units. This is why a bottle of wine between two people is 4.9 units each — already a significant portion of the weekly 14-unit recommendation.
US standard drink = 14g pure alcohol = approximately: 12 oz regular beer (5%), 5 oz wine (12%), 1.5 oz spirits (40%). UK unit = 10ml (8g) pure alcohol = approximately: half pint of regular beer (3.5-4%), 1 small glass of wine (125ml at 8%), or 1 single shot of spirits (25ml at 40%). These differ — always specify which system.
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) drops at approximately 0.015% per hour for most people — equivalent to about 1 UK unit per hour. A person with BAC of 0.08% (legal driving limit in US) takes about 5.5 hours to sober completely. Coffee, cold showers, and food do not speed this up — time is the only method.
There is no guaranteed-safe amount for driving — alcohol affects reaction time even below legal limits. UK legal limit: 80mg/100ml blood = approximately 2-3 units for an average person (varies by individual). US limit: 0.08% BAC. The safest approach for driving is zero alcohol. Even one unit can impair night vision, reaction time, and risk assessment.
UK: no more than 14 units per week, spread over 3+ days. US: up to 7 standard drinks/week for women, 14 for men (moderate). Australia: no more than 10 standard drinks/week, no more than 4 on any single day. WHO: more than 10 standard drinks/week considered hazardous. These are low-risk thresholds — any alcohol carries some health risk.
Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram (between protein/carbs at 4 and fat at 9). A pint of regular beer: approximately 180-220 calories. Large glass of wine (250ml, 13%): 200-230 calories. Single gin and tonic: 100-120 calories. Cocktails vary enormously: mojito 160-240 cal, pina colada 300-400+ cal. Heavy drinkers can easily consume 500-1,000+ extra calories per day from alcohol.