Alcohol Unit Calculator
Calculate the number of alcohol units in any drink and see how it compares to weekly safe drinking guidelines.
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How to use this calculator
An alcohol unit is 10ml of pure alcohol. Divide the ABV percentage by 100 to get the alcohol fraction, multiply by the volume in ml, then divide by 10 to convert ml to units.
- 1
Select the type of drink from the dropdown.
- 2
Enter the number of drinks.
- 3
Enter the ABV (alcohol by volume) percentage — check the label or bottle.
- 4
Read the total units, calories, and how this compares to UK weekly guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
How does this calculator define a unit?
One unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol, the UK-style definition. Units per drink are ABV ÷ 100 × the drink’s volume in ml ÷ 10. A 568 ml pint at 5% therefore gives 2.84 units. Other countries use different reference amounts, such as a 14 g standard drink in the United States, so unit counts are not comparable across systems.
Why do I enter ABV separately from the drink type?
The drink type fixes only the volume: 568 ml pint, 440 ml can, 175 ml glass of wine, 750 ml bottle, 25 ml or 50 ml spirit measure, 200 ml cocktail and 125 ml champagne glass. The ABV box applies to every drink and starts at 5, so for a 40% spirit you must type 40, or the result will be far too low.
What if my drink is not one of those sizes?
Pick the closest type and scale the count. A 330 ml bottle is 330 ÷ 440 = 0.75 of the 440 ml can option, so enter 0.75 for every bottle you drank. The count accepts decimals. The sizes are fixed in the code and cannot be edited.
How are calories estimated?
The tool uses 56 kcal per unit for the alcohol itself, then adds a flat amount per drink for other ingredients: 80 kcal for a cocktail, 25 for wine, 50 for beer and 5 for anything else. A 5% pint comes to about 209 kcal. The extras are rough and are not changed for a bottle, sugar content or mixers.
What is "Time to Clear from Body"?
The code assumes one unit per hour, so the hours simply equal the total units. This is a rule of thumb and individual rates differ. It is not a measure of when it is legal or safe to drive, and the tool gives no such guidance.
What is the weekly guideline percentage?
The result divides your total units by 14, the weekly figure used in UK guidance, and shows the percentage. Seven pints of 4% beer give 15.9 units and 114%. The tool does not interpret that number or judge whether any amount of alcohol is appropriate for you.
Can I enter 0% for alcohol-free drinks?
Yes. An ABV of 0 gives 0.0 units, and a drink count of 0 gives 0 units. Calories are not zero because the flat per-drink amount for beer, wine or cocktails is still added.
Counting alcohol units with the 10 ml definition
The formula and its inputs
A unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol. To find the units in one drink, the calculator turns ABV into a fraction, multiplies by the volume in ml and divides by 10. The result is multiplied by the number of drinks you enter. The drink type contributes only a preset volume, while ABV is a separate box that defaults to 5, so strong drinks need their ABV entered by hand. ABV is capped between 0 and 100.
Calculator outputs for common drinks
These rows come straight from the tool. Calories combine 56 kcal per unit with a flat per-drink extra, and the final column is the share of 14 units.
| Drink | ABV | Units per drink | Total units | Calories | Of 14 units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pint (568 ml) | 5% | 2.84 | 2.8 | ~209 kcal | 20% |
| 2 medium glasses (175 ml) | 13% | 2.27 | 4.5 | ~305 kcal | 33% |
| 3 single spirits (25 ml) | 40% | 1.00 | 3.0 | ~183 kcal | 21% |
| 1 bottle of wine (750 ml) | 12.5% | 9.38 | 9.4 | ~550 kcal | 67% |
| 2 cocktails (~200 ml) | 15% | 3.00 | 6.0 | ~496 kcal | 43% |
| 7 pints (568 ml) | 4% | 2.27 | 15.9 | ~1241 kcal | 114% |
How the sample figures were reached
A single 25 ml spirit at 40% is exactly one unit, which is why the tool shows 1.00 units for each of the three shots. A 175 ml glass of 13% wine is just over two units at 2.27, and two glasses reach 4.5. A bottle of 12.5% wine contains 9.38 units by the same arithmetic, and the calorie line counts only 25 kcal of extras for the bottle because it treats it as one drink.
Why unit systems differ
The 10 ml unit is a UK convention, and other countries measure a standard drink by grams of alcohol or by different reference volumes. That means a count of units from this tool should not be compared with a "drinks per week" limit from another country without converting. Within the tool, pours are fixed, so a large restaurant glass can contain more than the 175 ml preset. Adjust the number of drinks if you know the real volume.
What the output does not cover
The calculator estimates units and rough calories only. The clearance time simply equals your units in hours, and it is not a basis for decisions about driving, work or medication. The percentage uses a fixed 14-unit weekly figure and offers no personal interpretation. Anyone worried about their drinking, or with a medical condition, should speak to a doctor or a local alcohol support service.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial, medical, legal, or technical advice. Read full disclaimer →