Alcohol Unit Calculator
Enter the volume and ABV of your drink to find out how many alcohol units it contains and its calorie content.
What Is an Alcohol Unit?
One alcohol unit is defined as 10 ml (8 g) of pure ethanol. This is the standard used in the United Kingdom; other countries use different standard drink definitions (Australia uses 10 g, the US uses 14 g / 1.5 units). The formula is simple:
Units = Volume (ml) × ABV (%) ÷ 1000
So a 330 ml can of 5% beer contains 330 × 5 ÷ 1000 = 1.65 units. A 175 ml glass of 13% wine contains 175 × 13 ÷ 1000 = 2.28 units.
The NHS recommends that adults drink no more than 14 units per week on a regular basis, spread across three or more days, with several alcohol-free days each week. 14 units is roughly equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of wine.
Units and Calories in Common Drinks
| Drink | Volume | ABV | Units | Calories (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer, can | 330 ml | 5% | 1.65 | ~140 kcal |
| Pint of beer | 568 ml | 4% | 2.27 | ~180 kcal |
| Medium glass of wine | 175 ml | 13% | 2.28 | ~160 kcal |
| Large glass of wine | 250 ml | 13% | 3.25 | ~228 kcal |
| Single spirit + mixer | 25 ml spirit | 40% | 1.0 | ~100–120 kcal |
| Bottle of wine | 750 ml | 13% | 9.75 | ~685 kcal |
| Alcopop / RTD | 275 ml | 5% | 1.38 | ~170 kcal |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Friday night out — 3 pints of 4.5% beer. Each pint: 568 × 4.5 ÷ 1000 = 2.56 units. Three pints: 7.68 units. Calories: ~600 kcal.
Example 2: Bottle of wine shared between two people. Full bottle (750 ml, 13%): 9.75 units. Per person: 4.88 units, ~343 kcal each.
Example 3: Spirits at a bar — 4 double measures (50 ml, 40%). Each double: 50 × 40 ÷ 1000 = 2.0 units. Four doubles: 8.0 units — more than half the weekly guideline in one session.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The NHS recommends no more than 14 units per week for both men and women. This is equivalent to about 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small (125 ml) glasses of 12% wine. The guidance also recommends spreading drinks over 3 or more days rather than saving them all for one or two sessions, and having several alcohol-free days each week.
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Pure alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram — almost as calorie-dense as fat (9 kcal/g). A drink's calorie content comes from the alcohol itself plus any sugar in the mixer or residual sugars in wine and beer. A gram of alcohol = 1.25 ml of pure ethanol; one unit (10 ml ethanol) = approximately 56 kcal from the alcohol alone, before mixers or sugars.
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Yes, in several ways. Alcohol adds significant calories with no nutritional value. It also inhibits fat oxidation — while alcohol is being metabolised, your body prioritises burning alcohol over fat. Additionally, alcohol impairs sleep quality, increases appetite, and reduces inhibitions around food choices. Even moderate drinking can significantly slow fat loss.
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The NHS defines binge drinking as consuming more than 6 units in a single session for women and 8 units for men — roughly 2 large glasses of wine or 3 pints of beer in one sitting. Binge drinking is associated with higher risk of accidents, violence, alcohol poisoning, and long-term liver and cardiovascular disease, even in people who drink within weekly limits overall.
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The body metabolises approximately 1 unit of alcohol per hour on average. This rate is fixed — coffee, food, and water do not speed it up. After drinking 6 units (e.g. 3 pints), you would still have measurable alcohol in your blood around 6 hours later. Individual rates vary with body weight, age, sex, and liver health.
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Yes. A "standard drink" varies by country: 8–10 g of ethanol in the UK, 10 g in Australia and New Zealand, 12 g in Italy, and 14 g in the US. This calculator uses the UK definition (10 ml / 8 g = 1 unit). If you are following guidelines from another country, you may need to adjust the unit count accordingly.