Alcohol Units Calculator UK
Enter drink details: select type for preset ABV, adjust volume in ml, add servings, tweak strength if needed. Click calculate for units (volume in litres × ABV × 1000 / 1000) and calories (units × 7 approx.). Spread 14 units over 3+ days.
- Beer 568ml at 4% ABV: ~2.3 units
- Wine 175ml at 12% ABV: ~2.1 units
- Gin 25ml at 40% ABV: 1 unit
UK Chief Medical Officers advise no more than 14 units weekly for both men and women. One binge session counts as 8 units men, 6 women. Exceeding raises risks for liver disease, cancers, heart issues.
| Period | Low Risk Limit |
|---|---|
| Weekly | 14 units (both sexes) |
| Daily Binge Men | 8+ units |
| Daily Binge Women | 6+ units |
- What counts as a unit? 10ml or 8g pure alcohol. Formula: (ml × ABV)/1000.
- Calories in drinks? Roughly 7 per unit; wine higher at ~85 per 175ml.
- Drive next day? Allow 1 hour per unit +1 hour from last drink; plan ahead.
- Custom drinks? Use ‘Other’, input exact ABV from bottle.
- Track over week? Log totals, aim below 14, have alcohol-free days.
Common Drink Comparisons
| Drink | Typical Size | ABV | Units | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pint Bitter | 568ml | 3.6% | 2.0 | 14 |
| Large Wine Glass | 250ml | 12% | 3.0 | 21 |
| Double Gin Tonic | 50ml | 40% | 2.0 | 14 |
| Strong Cider | 568ml | 7.5% | 4.3 | 30 |
| Alcopop | 275ml | 5.5% | 1.5 | 11 |
Stronger or larger servings add up fast; check labels for exact ABV.
How Units Work
UK standard unit equals 10ml pure alcohol. Convert any drink: multiply litres by ABV percentage. Pint at 5% = 0.568 × 5 = 2.84 units. Calories follow units, plus sugars in mixers or fortified types.
Blood alcohol clears at ~1 unit/hour; factors like food, weight vary clearance. Weekly cap prevents buildup.
Frequent Mistakes
- Overlook ABV changes in craft beers (up to 12%).
- Forget multiple drinks in rounds total more.
- Mix measures: 35ml single spirits ≠ pub double.
- Ignore low/no ABV options still count if over 0.5%.
- Weekend binges exceed weekly limit despite weekdays off.
References
- UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines (2016), Department of Health.
- Drinkaware Unit Calculator Methodology, Drinkaware Charity (2023).
- Alcohol Change UK Unit Factsheet, Alcohol Change UK (2024).
- NHS UK Alcohol Units and Calories Guide, National Health Service (2025).
- Portman Group Code of Practice on Alcohol Labelling, The Portman Group (2024).