How many units in a drink? UK alcohol units table
Short answer: one UK unit is 10 ml, or 8 g, of pure alcohol. A single 25 ml measure of 40% spirit is 1 unit, a pint of 4% lager 2.3 units, a 175 ml glass of 12% wine 2.1 units and a bottle of 13.5% wine 10 units. To work out any drink, multiply its volume in ml by its ABV and divide by 1,000. The UK guideline is not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
What is a unit of alcohol?
A UK unit is a fixed amount of pure alcohol: 10 ml, which weighs about 8 g. It is roughly the amount an average adult’s liver can process in an hour (NHS).
Units exist because drinks vary so much in size and strength. “One drink” can mean a half of shandy or a large glass of Rioja, which contain very different amounts of alcohol. Units let you compare them on the same scale.
The formula for any drink
You only need two numbers, both printed on the label: the volume and the ABV (alcohol by volume).
Units = volume in ml × ABV ÷ 1,000
A 440 ml can of 5% lager: 440 × 5 ÷ 1,000 = 2.2 units. A 250 ml glass of 13.5% wine: 250 × 13.5 ÷ 1,000 = 3.4 units.
The table: beer and cider
| Drink | Size | Strength | UK units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half pint of lager or bitter | 284 ml | 4% | 1.1 |
| Pint of session bitter or cider | 568 ml | 3.6% | 2.0 |
| Pint of lager | 568 ml | 4% | 2.3 |
| Pint of lager or cider | 568 ml | 4.5% | 2.6 |
| Pint of premium lager | 568 ml | 5% | 2.8 |
| Pint of IPA | 568 ml | 6.5% | 3.7 |
| Bottle of beer | 330 ml | 5% | 1.7 |
| Can of lager | 440 ml | 4% | 1.8 |
| Can of lager | 440 ml | 5% | 2.2 |
| Can of craft beer | 330 ml | 7% | 2.3 |
| Bottle of cider | 500 ml | 4.5% | 2.3 |
Strength matters as much as size. A pint of 5% premium lager has a quarter more alcohol than a pint of 4%, and a pint of 6.5% IPA (3.7 units) holds more than a pint of 4% lager plus a single measure of spirits. For a specific beer, the ConsomAction database lists more than 240 drinks, such as a can of Guinness Draught, a Corona or a Stella Artois.
The table: wine and fizz
| Drink | Size | Strength | UK units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small glass of wine | 125 ml | 12% | 1.5 |
| Small glass of wine | 125 ml | 13.5% | 1.7 |
| Standard glass of wine | 175 ml | 12% | 2.1 |
| Standard glass of wine | 175 ml | 13.5% | 2.4 |
| Large glass of wine | 250 ml | 12% | 3.0 |
| Large glass of wine | 250 ml | 13.5% | 3.4 |
| Bottle of wine | 750 ml | 12% | 9.0 |
| Bottle of wine | 750 ml | 13.5% | 10.1 |
| Glass of prosecco | 125 ml | 11% | 1.4 |
| Glass of champagne | 125 ml | 12% | 1.5 |
Wine is where units add up fastest. A large glass is a third of a bottle, and many reds are now 13.5% to 14.5%, not the 12% often used in examples. Two large glasses of a 13.5% red is already almost 7 units, half the weekly guideline.
The table: spirits, liqueurs and cocktails
| Drink | Size | Strength | UK units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single measure of spirits | 25 ml | 40% | 1.0 |
| Larger single (some pubs, and Ireland) | 35 ml | 40% | 1.4 |
| Double measure | 50 ml | 40% | 2.0 |
| Shot of limoncello | 25 ml | 27% | 0.7 |
| Glass of port or sherry | 50 ml | 20% | 1.0 |
| Alcopop | 275 ml | 4% | 1.1 |
| Gin and tonic, single | 25 ml gin | 40% | 1.0 |
| Aperol Spritz (standard recipe) | about 150 ml | about 9% | 1.4 |
| Mojito | 50 ml rum | 40% | 2.0 |
| Long Island Iced Tea | 5 spirits | 40% | 3.0 |
Cocktails are hard to count because recipes vary from bar to bar. As a rule, count each 25 ml of spirit as 1 unit, then add the liqueurs and any prosecco. Home measures are often far bigger than pub measures: a free-poured gin can easily be a double.
How UK units compare with Ireland and the US
Different countries use different measures, which is a common source of confusion:
- UK unit: 8 g of pure alcohol.
- Irish standard drink: 10 g of pure alcohol, roughly half a pint of beer, 100 ml of wine or a pub measure of spirits (HSE).
- US standard drink: 14 g of pure alcohol.
So 14 UK units a week is 112 g of alcohol, about 11 Irish standard drinks. The ConsomAction app counts in 10 g units, the same as an Irish standard drink: to convert to UK units, multiply by 1.25.
Units and your health
The UK Chief Medical Officers advise not drinking more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread over three or more days, with several alcohol-free days each week (NHS). In Ireland, the HSE’s low-risk guidelines are 11 standard drinks a week for women and 17 for men.
Units also help you work out when alcohol has left your system. Count roughly one hour per unit from your first drink, as a minimum. Our drink-by-drink table and our guide to how long to wait before driving go into the details.
FAQ
How many units in a pint of beer?
It depends on the strength: 2.0 units for a 3.6% bitter, 2.3 for a 4% lager, 2.8 for a 5% premium lager and 3.7 for a 6.5% IPA.
How many units in a bottle of wine?
Between 9 and 10 units for most wines: 9.0 units at 12%, 10.1 units at 13.5%, and 10.9 units at 14.5%.
How many units is a double vodka?
A double measure of 50 ml at 40% is 2 units. In many Irish pubs a single is 35.5 ml, so a double there is about 2.8 units.
Are units the same as calories?
No. Units measure alcohol only. Calories include the alcohol (7 kcal per gram) plus the sugar and carbohydrates in the drink, which is why a cocktail or a sweet cider can contain far more calories than its units suggest.
Further reading
- How long does alcohol stay in your system? Drink-by-drink table
- How long after drinking can I drive? UK and Ireland
- Alcohol-free vs low alcohol: what 0.0%, 0.05% and 0.5% mean