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.
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Select the type of drink from the dropdown.
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Enter the number of drinks.
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Enter the ABV (alcohol by volume) percentage — check the label or bottle.
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Read the total units, calories, and how this compares to UK weekly guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
What is one alcohol unit?
One unit is 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. A standard UK pint of 4% beer contains about 2.3 units. A large glass of 13% wine contains about 3 units.
What are the UK safe drinking guidelines?
UK Chief Medical Officers recommend no more than 14 units per week for both men and women, spread over at least 3 days. This equates to about 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of wine.
How long does alcohol stay in your system?
The liver processes approximately 1 unit of alcohol per hour. Coffee, food, and sleep do not speed up this process — only time does. Never drive if you have been drinking recently.
How are calories calculated?
Alcohol itself provides 7 kcal per gram (about 56 kcal per unit). Beers add carbohydrate calories from malt; wines and cocktails add sugar calories. The estimates here are approximate.
Alcohol Unit Calculator — Units, Calories, and Safe Drinking Guidelines
What Are Alcohol Units?
The alcohol unit is a UK measurement system for tracking alcohol consumption. One unit equals 10ml of pure ethanol. It was designed to make it easier to compare drinks of different strengths and sizes.
UK Drinking Guidelines Explained
The UK NHS recommends a maximum of 14 units per week, spread over 3 or more days. Drinking more than this increases the risk of a range of health conditions. Having some alcohol-free days each week is also recommended.
Alcohol and Calories
Alcohol is calorically dense at 7 kcal per gram — more than protein or carbohydrates (4 kcal/g each) and close to fat (9 kcal/g). Many people do not account for "liquid calories" when managing their weight, but alcoholic drinks can add 300–800 kcal to a night out.
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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 →