Alcohol Unit Calculator

One unit of alcohol is defined as 10 ml (8 g) of pure ethanol in the UK system. In the US, a standard drink contains 14 g (approximately 18 ml) of pure ethanol. A UK unit is roughly equivalent to: half a pint of 4% ABV beer, a 25 ml measure of 40% spirits, or a third of a glass (76 ml) of 13% ABV wine. A standard 175 ml glass of 13% wine contains about 2.3 UK units.

UK Chief Medical Officers recommend drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week for both men and women, spread over 3 or more days with several alcohol-free days, and avoiding binge drinking (more than 6 units in a single session). The US guidelines suggest up to 2 standard drinks per day for men and 1 for women. Many health organisations note there is no completely safe level of alcohol consumption.

Long-term excess alcohol consumption is associated with liver disease (fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis), an increased risk of several cancers (mouth, throat, oesophagus, breast, liver, bowel), cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, brain damage, mental health problems including depression and anxiety, weakened immune function, and nutritional deficiencies. Short-term risks include impaired judgement, accidents, and alcohol poisoning.