Drink Calculator UK
Find out how many UK alcohol units are in any drink and keep a running count for the evening. Enter volume and ABV to convert, or add drinks to your log to track your total consumption against the recommended 14 units per week.
Looking for the US standard drinks version? Try our Drink Calculator or estimate blood alcohol with our BAC Calculator.
UK Unit Converter
Select a preset drink or enter custom volume and ABV to see how many UK alcohol units (10 ml pure alcohol) it contains.
Drink Log
Add each drink you have to keep a running total of UK units, alcohol grams, and calories for the session.
How many of this drink
How to Use This Tool
Convert a Drink
Pick a preset drink or enter custom volume and ABV to see how many UK units it contains
Build Your Log
Add each drink to the log as you go — mix and match different drinks throughout the evening
Track Your Total
See your running total of UK units, pure alcohol in grams, and calories from alcohol
UK Unit Reference
Units = (ABV% x Volume ml) / 1,000| Drink | UK Units | Alcohol (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Pint of Lager (568 ml, 4%) | 2.3 | 17.9 |
| Pint of IPA (568 ml, 5.5%) | 3.1 | 24.6 |
| Can of Lager (440 ml, 4.5%) | 2.0 | 15.6 |
| Standard Glass of Wine (175 ml, 12%) | 2.1 | 16.6 |
| Large Glass of Wine (250 ml, 12%) | 3.0 | 23.7 |
| Bottle of Wine (750 ml, 12%) | 9.0 | 71.0 |
| Single Measure (25 ml, 40%) | 1.0 | 7.9 |
| Double Measure (50 ml, 40%) | 2.0 | 15.8 |
| Gin and Tonic (275 ml, 6.5%) | 1.8 | 14.1 |
| Alcopop / RTD (275 ml, 5%) | 1.4 | 10.8 |
A UK alcohol unit is defined as 10 ml (8 grams) of pure alcohol. The formula multiplies the ABV percentage by the volume in millilitres and divides by 1,000. For example, a pint (568 ml) of 4% lager contains 568 x 4 / 1,000 = 2.3 units.
The UK Chief Medical Officers advise that to keep health risks from alcohol low, both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week. If you do drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread this evenly over three or more days.
Note that actual pours vary. A pub measure of wine is typically 175 ml or 250 ml, but home pours may differ. Always check the label for ABV and measure your pour for accurate results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a UK alcohol unit?
A UK alcohol unit equals 10 ml (or 8 grams) of pure alcohol. This is the standard measure used by the NHS and UK Chief Medical Officers. A single 25 ml measure of spirits at 40% ABV is exactly 1 unit. A pint of standard-strength lager (4%) contains about 2.3 units, and a 175 ml glass of 12% wine is about 2.1 units.
What are the UK alcohol guidelines?
The UK Chief Medical Officers advise that both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units per week. If you do drink as much as 14 units per week, spread your drinking over three or more days. If you wish to cut down, try having several drink-free days each week. These guidelines were updated in 2016 and apply across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
How many units are in a bottle of wine?
A standard 750 ml bottle of wine at 12% ABV contains 9 units. A stronger bottle at 14% ABV contains 10.5 units. This means a single bottle of wine already puts you close to (or over) the weekly guideline of 14 units. A typical restaurant glass of 175 ml at 12% is 2.1 units, while a large 250 ml glass is 3 units.
How many units are in a pint?
A pint (568 ml) of standard lager or bitter at 4% ABV contains about 2.3 units. Stronger lagers at 5% come to about 2.8 units per pint, and premium IPAs at 5.5% or above can contain over 3 units per pint. This means just five pints of 5% lager reaches the 14-unit weekly guideline.
How is this different from a BAC calculator?
This drink calculator counts UK alcohol units — it tells you how much alcohol is in what you are drinking. A BAC calculator estimates your blood alcohol concentration based on your body weight, sex, and time elapsed. Use this tool to understand your drinks and track your unit count, then use a BAC calculator if you want to estimate your blood alcohol level.
How many calories are in alcohol?
Pure alcohol contains about 7 calories per gram, making it almost as calorie-dense as fat (9 cal/g). A pint of 4% lager has roughly 180 calories, a 175 ml glass of 12% wine about 130 calories, and a single 25 ml spirit measure around 55 calories (before mixers). Alcohol calories are sometimes called “empty calories” because they provide no nutritional benefit.
UK Weekly Guidelines
The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units per week. That is roughly 6 pints of 4% lager, 6 standard (175 ml) glasses of 12% wine, or 14 single (25 ml) measures of spirits. Spread your drinking over three or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week.
Want to check the US standard drinks equivalent? Try our Drink Calculator or estimate blood alcohol with the BAC Calculator.