Alcohol Unit Calculator

Enter your drink's volume, alcohol by volume (ABV%), and number of drinks to calculate total alcohol units and standard drinks. The Alcohol Unit Calculator shows you exactly how much pure alcohol you're consuming — helping you stay within recommended weekly limits.

ml

Enter the size of your drink in millilitres. 1 fl. oz ≈ 29.57 ml.

%

ABV is printed on every bottle or can label. Typical beer: 4–7%, wine: 11–14%, spirits: 37–45%.

How many of these drinks did you (or do you plan to) consume?

Choose the standard relevant to your country.

Enter the proof value here to auto-calculate ABV. Proof ÷ 2 = ABV%. Leave blank if you already know ABV.

Results

Total Alcohol Units / Standard Drinks

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Pure Alcohol (ml)

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Pure Alcohol (grams)

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Units per Single Drink

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% of Recommended Weekly Limit

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ABV from Proof Converter

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Units vs Remaining Weekly Limit

Results Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What is one alcohol unit?

In the UK, one unit of alcohol equals 10ml (or 8g) of pure alcohol. It's the amount an average adult body can process in approximately one hour. The formula is: Units = Volume (ml) × ABV (%) ÷ 1000.

What is a US standard drink, and how does it differ from a UK unit?

A US standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol — equivalent to 17.7ml of pure alcohol. A UK unit contains 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. So one US standard drink equals approximately 1.77 UK units. This calculator lets you switch between systems.

How many units are in a bottle of wine?

A standard 750ml bottle of wine at 12% ABV contains 9 UK units (750 × 12 ÷ 1000 = 9). That's equivalent to approximately 5 US standard drinks. The NHS recommends drinking no more than 14 units per week spread over at least 3 days.

How many alcohol units are in a 40 fl. oz. bottle of malt liquor?

A 40 fl. oz. (approximately 1183ml) bottle of malt liquor at around 7% ABV contains about 8.3 UK units or approximately 4.7 US standard drinks — significantly more than most people realise for a single container.

What are the recommended weekly alcohol limits?

The UK's NHS recommends no more than 14 units per week for both men and women. The US Dietary Guidelines recommend no more than 14 standard drinks per week for men and 7 per week for women. It's also recommended to have at least 2 alcohol-free days per week.

How do I convert proof to ABV?

Proof is simply double the ABV percentage. So 80-proof spirits = 40% ABV, and 100-proof = 50% ABV. Use the Proof Converter field in this calculator — enter the proof value and it will display the corresponding ABV percentage automatically.

Why is knowing alcohol units important?

Tracking units helps you make informed decisions about your drinking and stay within safe limits. Many people significantly underestimate how much alcohol is in their drinks, especially with larger glass sizes and higher-strength craft beers and wines becoming more common.

How long does it take to process one unit of alcohol?

On average, the liver processes about one UK unit per hour. However, this varies based on body weight, age, sex, food intake, and individual metabolism. You cannot speed this up with coffee or water — only time reduces blood alcohol concentration.

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