About This Alcohol Unit Calculator
Alcohol units are a way to measure how much pure alcohol you are drinking. One UK unit equals 10 ml (8 grams) of pure ethanol. The simple formula is: Units = Volume (ml) × ABV% ÷ 1000. This calculator does that math for you across common drink sizes and lets you enter custom volumes and ABV for any drink.
Common Drinks in UK Units
| Drink | Volume | ABV | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pint of Beer | 568 ml | 4% | 2.3 units |
| Glass of Wine | 175 ml | 12% | 2.1 units |
| Single Spirit Shot | 25 ml | 40% | 1.0 unit |
| Can of Beer | 330 ml | 5% | 1.65 units |
| Bottle of Wine | 750 ml | 12% | 9.0 units |
| Pint of Cider | 568 ml | 4.5% | 2.6 units |
UK Drinking Guidelines
The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend no more than 14 units per week for both men and women. Spreading consumption over at least 3 days reduces risk compared to drinking all 14 units in one or two sessions. Having several alcohol-free days per week is also recommended. Note that the US standard drink (14 g of pure alcohol) is slightly larger than one UK unit (8 g).
Frequently Asked Questions
A UK unit contains 8 grams (10 ml) of pure alcohol, while a US standard drink contains 14 grams (17.7 ml). A 12 oz (355 ml) US beer at 5% ABV equals about 1 US standard drink but 1.65 UK units. Always check which standard applies in your country.
Water does not reduce the total units you consume — it just helps with hydration. The only thing that reduces your blood alcohol level is time. Your liver processes alcohol at a roughly fixed rate regardless of what else you drink.
UK regulations require alcohol producers to display unit counts on labels to help consumers track intake. A standard 750 ml bottle of 12% wine contains 9 units — well above the recommended single-session limit of 2–4 units for a lower-risk drinking occasion.