Alcohol Units Calculator
Calculate alcohol units in beer, wine, and spirits using ABV and volume.
Compare weekly total against UK and WHO recommended limits of 14 units per week.
An alcohol unit is a standardized measure used to track how much pure alcohol you consume, making it easy to compare drinks across different types and strengths.
The Formula:
Units = (Volume in mL × ABV%) / 1000
One unit = 10 mL (8g) of pure alcohol (UK standard)
Note: The US “standard drink” = 14g of pure alcohol = 1.75 UK units.
Worked Examples:
- Pint of 4% beer (568 mL): Units = (568 × 4) / 1000 = 2.3 units
- Small glass of wine 175 mL at 13%: Units = (175 × 13) / 1000 = 2.3 units
- Single shot of spirits 25 mL at 40%: Units = (25 × 40) / 1000 = 1.0 unit
- Large wine 250 mL at 14%: Units = (250 × 14) / 1000 = 3.5 units
UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low-Risk Guidelines:
- Men and women: no more than 14 units per week
- Spread over 3+ days (not all at once)
- At least 2 alcohol-free days per week
Common Drink Unit Reference:
| Drink | Typical Units |
|---|---|
| Pint of 5% beer | 2.8 units |
| Bottle of 13% wine (750 mL) | 9.75 units |
| 70 cL bottle of 40% spirits | 28 units |
| Alcopop 275 mL at 5% | 1.4 units |
Practical Tips:
- Tracking units helps far more than counting “drinks” — a large wine can be 3× a small one
- Your liver processes roughly 1 unit per hour regardless of food, coffee, or sleep
- High-strength craft beers (7–10% ABV) can deliver 4+ units per can
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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