Alcohol Units: Turning Volume and Strength Into Units
Units let you compare a pint, a glass of wine, and a spirit measure on one scale. The formula is short and worth knowing.
What is the Alcohol Units Calculator?
One UK unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol, so the maths is volume times strength divided by 1,000. Enter the drink size in millilitres and its ABV percentage and the tool gives the units at once. Units describe the drink, not how it will affect you, which also depends on food, pace, and body size.
How to use it
- Enter the drink volume in millilitres.
- Enter the ABV percentage.
- Click Calculate Units.
Worked example
A 568 ml drink at 5 percent ABV contains 2.84 UK units.
How many units are in a pint of 5 percent beer?
A 568 ml pint at 5 percent holds 2.84 units, which is why two pints can pass the commonly quoted daily guidance for many adults.
Frequently asked questions
Are US standard drinks the same?
No, a US standard drink holds about 14 g of alcohol, which is a different measure from a UK unit.
Do units predict drunkenness?
Only loosely. Pace, food, body size, and tolerance all change the effect of the same units.