Alcohol Units Calculator
Calculate units, calories & compare with safe drinking guidelines
⚠️ Safe Drinking Guidelines
- UK NHS: Max 14 units/week, spread over 3+ days
- WHO: No safe level of alcohol for health — less is better
- Binge drinking: 6+ units in one session (women), 8+ (men)
Unit Reference Guide
| Drink | Measure | ABV | Units | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🍺 Beer / Lager | Pint (568ml) | 5% | 2.8 | ~215 |
| 🍷 Wine | Large glass (250ml) | 13% | 3.3 | ~225 |
| 🥃 Spirits | Single shot (25ml) | 40% | 1.0 | ~56 |
| 🍹 Cocktail | Standard (200ml) | 10% | 2.0 | ~175 |
| 🍾 Champagne | Flute (125ml) | 12% | 1.5 | ~95 |
Unit formula: Volume (ml) × ABV% ÷ 1000. One unit = 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol.
Frequently Asked Questions
One UK alcohol unit contains 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. The formula is: Units = Volume (ml) × ABV (%) ÷ 1000. For example, a pint of 5% beer = 568 × 5 ÷ 1000 = 2.84 units.
Pure alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram (almost as much as fat at 9 kcal/g). A pint of 5% beer ≈ 215 kcal, a large glass of wine ≈ 225 kcal, and a shot of spirits ≈ 56 kcal. These are "empty calories" with no nutritional value.
The liver processes approximately 1 unit of alcohol per hour. So 10 units would take about 10 hours to clear. Factors like body weight, food intake, age, and genetics affect this rate. Never drive if you've been drinking — there is no guaranteed safe level.