Alcohol Unit Calculator
US standard drinks, UK units and calories
Select a drink and quantity to calculate alcohol units and calories.
Alcohol Units
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UK standard units
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Pure alcohol (total)0
US standard drinks (14 g)0
UK units per drink—
Total units—
Calories from alcohol, per drink—
Total calories from alcohol—
NHS weekly limit14 units (men & women)
% of weekly limit—
Remaining weekly budget—
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How UK Alcohol Units Work
A US standard drink contains 14 g of pure alcohol, about 1.8 UK units, while a UK unit is 10 ml or about 8 g. A 12 oz beer at 5%, a 5 oz glass of 12% wine and a 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof spirits are each one US drink. Pick a drink above to see grams, US drinks, UK units and calories.
A UK alcohol unit is 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. The formula is: Units = Volume (ml) x ABV (%) / 1000. A pint of 4% beer contains 2.3 units. A large glass of 13% wine contains 3.25 units. The NHS recommends no more than 14 units per week for both men and women.
Alcohol also contains significant calories: 7 kcal per gram, similar to fat (9 kcal/g) and more than carbohydrates (4 kcal/g). A large glass of wine contains about 185 calories. A pint of lager contains roughly 180-230 calories, often compared to a bag of crisps.
NHS Recommended Limits
The NHS recommends no more than 14 units per week for both men and women, spread over 3+ days. Having 14 units in 1-2 days ('binge drinking') carries higher health risks than the same amount spread over a week. There is no 'safe' level of alcohol: the guidelines represent a level where risk is considered low.
Calories in Alcohol
Alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram of pure alcohol. Drinks also contain sugar and other carbohydrates. A pint of 5% lager: ~215 kcal. A large glass of 13% wine: ~185 kcal. A gin and tonic: ~120 kcal. A glass of prosecco: ~80 kcal. These 'empty calories' have no nutritional value and are processed before other nutrients by the liver.
BAC and Driving
UK drink-drive limit: 80 mg of alcohol per 100ml blood (England, Wales, Northern Ireland). Scotland: 50 mg/100ml. The safest approach is not to drink at all if driving. BAC depends on weight, sex, metabolism, food consumed, and timing. There is no reliable formula to calculate safe driving windows.
Low-Alcohol Options
Low-alcohol beers (0.5-1.2% ABV) are increasingly available and can significantly reduce units while maintaining the social experience. Non-alcoholic beers (0-0.05%) contain virtually no alcohol. Sparkling water with bitters or non-alcoholic spirits are also popular alternatives for reducing weekly unit intake.
US Standard Drinks vs UK Units
Both measure pure alcohol, just in different sizes. Grams of alcohol = volume in ml × ABV × 0.789 (the density of ethanol). Divide grams by 14 for US standard drinks. For UK units, multiply ml by ABV % and divide by 1,000.
| Drink | Alcohol | US drinks | UK units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 oz beer or hard seltzer, 5% | 14.0 g | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| 16 oz pint of beer, 5% | 18.7 g | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| 16 oz IPA, 7% | 26.1 g | 1.9 | 3.3 |
| 8 oz malt liquor, 7% | 13.1 g | 0.9 | 1.7 |
| 5 oz glass of wine, 12% | 14.0 g | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| 750 ml bottle of wine, 12% | 71.0 g | 5.1 | 9.0 |
| 750 ml bottle of wine, 13.5% | 79.9 g | 5.7 | 10.1 |
| 1.5 oz shot, 80 proof (40%) | 14.0 g | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| UK pint (568 ml) of 4% beer | 17.9 g | 1.3 | 2.3 |
| UK 25 ml single, 40% | 7.9 g | 0.6 | 1.0 |
US and UK Drinking Guidelines Compared
The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025 to 2030 edition, released January 2026) no longer give a daily number. They advise adults to consume less alcohol for better overall health, and say some people should avoid it completely: pregnant women, people recovering from alcohol use disorder or unable to control their drinking, and people on medications or with conditions that interact with alcohol. The earlier limits still appear as CDC's definition of moderate drinking.
| Guideline | Amount | Grams | UK units |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDC moderate drinking, men | 2 drinks or less a day | 28 g | 3.5 |
| CDC moderate drinking, women | 1 drink or less a day | 14 g | 1.75 |
| NIAAA binge drinking, men | 5 or more drinks in about 2 hours | 70 g | 8.75 |
| NIAAA binge drinking, women | 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours | 56 g | 7 |
| NIAAA heavy drinking, men | 5 or more on any day, or 15 or more a week | 210 g a week | 26.25 a week |
| NIAAA heavy drinking, women | 4 or more on any day, or 8 or more a week | 112 g a week | 14 a week |
| UK low-risk guideline, everyone | No more than 14 units a week | 112 g | 14 (8 US drinks) |
Note how the UK weekly limit of 14 units equals 8 US drinks, which is the level NIAAA already counts as heavy drinking for women. Drink sizes matter as much as the count.
Common Mistakes When Counting Drinks
- Counting glasses, not alcohol. A restaurant pour of wine is often more than 5 oz, and a strong IPA in a pint glass is nearly 2 standard drinks.
- Ignoring the ABV. Craft beers range from about 4% to over 10%, so check the label and use the custom option above.
- Treating cocktails as one drink. A drink with 3 oz of 40% spirits is 2 standard drinks before any liqueur is added.
- Mixing up the systems. "2 units" in a UK article is barely more than one US drink, so UK and US advice cannot be compared glass for glass.
To estimate blood alcohol from these numbers, use the BAC calculator, and never use any calculator to decide whether you can drive. If you are worried about your drinking, a doctor can help without judgment.
Method and sources. Grams of alcohol = volume (ml) × ABV × 0.789 g/ml; 1 US fl oz = 29.5735 ml; US standard drink = 14 g (NIAAA); UK unit = 10 ml or 8 g of pure alcohol (NHS, Alcohol units). Guidelines: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025 to 2030 (HHS and USDA); CDC, About Moderate Alcohol Use; NIAAA, Understanding Alcohol Drinking Patterns (the page formerly titled Drinking Levels Defined); UK Chief Medical Officers' Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. Every figure in the tables was computed with these formulas.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes. Alcohol guidelines and unit definitions may vary by country. Always drink responsibly. If you are concerned about your drinking, talk to your doctor. In the US, the free and confidential SAMHSA National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357; in the UK, speak to your GP.
Frequently Asked Questions
One UK unit equals 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. Formula: Units = Volume (ml) x ABV% / 1000. Examples: Pint of 4% beer (568ml): 568 x 4 / 1000 = 2.27 units. Small glass of 12% wine (125ml): 125 x 12 / 1000 = 1.5 units. Double spirit 40% (50ml): 50 x 40 / 1000 = 2.0 units. A bottle of wine (750ml at 13%): 9.75 units.
The NHS recommends that both men and women drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. This should be spread over 3 or more days. If you want to cut down, a good way is to have several alcohol-free days each week. Drinking within 14 units/week is considered 'low risk' (not zero risk). The guidance was updated in 2016 when evidence showed that even moderate drinking increases cancer risk.
Units = (Volume in ml x ABV%) / 1000. Examples: 440ml can of 5% beer = (440 x 5) / 1000 = 2.2 units. 175ml glass of 13% wine = (175 x 13) / 1000 = 2.275 units. 25ml of 40% gin = (25 x 40) / 1000 = 1.0 unit. 125ml of 12% prosecco = (125 x 12) / 1000 = 1.5 units.
Alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram. A gram of pure alcohol is about 1.27ml. Approximate calories: Pint of 4% beer: ~180 kcal. Pint of 5% lager: ~215 kcal. Standard glass of wine (175ml, 13%): ~160 kcal. Large glass (250ml, 13%): ~230 kcal. Single spirit + mixer: ~100-150 kcal. Prosecco glass (125ml): ~80 kcal. A bottle of wine: ~600-700 kcal.
NHS defines binge drinking as drinking more than 8 units in a single session for men and more than 6 units for women. That is about 3.5 pints of 4% beer for men, or about 2.5 medium (175 ml, 13%) glasses of wine for women. The World Health Organization uses 60 g or more of pure alcohol on one occasion for heavy episodic drinking. In the US, NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern that brings BAC to 0.08% or higher, typically 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more for women in about 2 hours. Binge drinking carries higher immediate risks regardless of overall weekly consumption.
The liver processes approximately 1 unit of alcohol per hour. This rate varies by weight, sex, liver health, food intake, and genetics. It cannot be sped up by coffee, water, exercise, or sleep. After 2 pints of 4% beer (4.5 units): full clearance takes approximately 4.5 hours. A bottle of wine (9.75 units): over 9 hours to clear completely. Blood alcohol continues rising for 30-90 minutes after your last drink as absorption continues.
Alcohol-free days are days where no alcohol is consumed. The UK guidelines recommend several drink-free days each week, even if you stay within 14 units. Regular alcohol-free days allow the liver to recover, improve sleep quality, support weight management, and reduce the risk of developing alcohol dependence. A month-long break (like Dry January) has been shown to reset drinking habits and improve liver health markers.
Alcohol impairs weight loss in several ways: adds empty calories (7 kcal/g), stimulates appetite, impairs fat metabolism (liver prioritises alcohol over fat), reduces willpower making dietary choices worse, disrupts sleep (which affects hunger hormones), and reduces exercise motivation. Even within NHS limits, regular drinking can contribute hundreds of weekly calories. Cutting alcohol is often one of the most effective dietary changes for weight loss.
Labeling rules differ by country. In the US, a beer can be called non-alcoholic only if it has less than 0.5% ABV, and alcohol-free only if it has none. In the UK, alcohol-free means no more than 0.05%, de-alcoholised no more than 0.5% and low alcohol no more than 1.2%. Low-alcohol beers (0.5%) have dramatically improved in quality. Brands like Heineken 0.0, Lucky Saint, and Guinness 0.0 are widely available. Non-alcoholic spirits (Seedlip, Monday, Lyre's) allow cocktail-style drinks without units.
Legally, one drink may keep you under the limit: but it is not safe and you should not drive. In the US the limit is 0.08% BAC (0.05% in Utah), which is the same as 80mg per 100ml. The UK limit is 80mg alcohol per 100ml blood in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (50mg in Scotland). Even below the legal limit, alcohol impairs reaction time and judgment. There is no safe formula for calculating when you're 'safe to drive.' The only safe guideline: if you drink, don't drive.
A US standard drink of 14 g of alcohol is about 1.8 UK units (1.75 using the rounded 8 g unit). So one UK unit is a little over half a US drink. A 12 oz beer at 5% is 1.8 units, and the UK weekly guideline of 14 units works out to 8 US standard drinks.
A 750 ml bottle of 12% wine holds about 5 US standard drinks (71 g of alcohol). At 13.5%, a common strength for red wine, it is about 5.7 drinks. In UK units those bottles are 9 and 10.1 units.
The 2025 to 2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released in January 2026, advise adults to consume less alcohol for better overall health without setting a daily number. Pregnant women, people in recovery from alcohol use disorder and people whose medications or conditions interact with alcohol should avoid it. CDC still defines moderate drinking as 2 drinks or less a day for men and 1 or less for women, and NIAAA counts 15 or more drinks a week for men, or 8 or more for women, as heavy drinking.