Alcohol Units Calculator
Count alcohol units from beer, wine, spirits, and custom drinks using country-specific standards.
Alcohol Units Explained
An alcohol unit measures pure ethanol in a drink. Different countries define one unit by a different gram amount. This calculator converts drink counts into units using country-specific standards.
Formula
$$\text{pure alcohol (ml)} = \frac{\text{ABV} \times \text{volume (ml)} \times \text{count}}{100}$$
$$\text{units} = \frac{\text{pure alcohol (ml)}}{\text{grams per unit} / 0.789}$$
For the UK, this is equivalent to $$(\text{ABV} \times \text{volume ml} \times \text{count}) / 1000$$ when the unit is 8 grams.
Weekly Limits
UK guidance recommends no more than 14 units per week, spread over several days. Other countries use different limits; check local health advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do UK and US units differ?
The UK defines one unit as 8 g of alcohol; the US standard drink is about 14 g. The same drink yields different unit counts.
What counts as a standard beer?
This calculator uses 330 ml at 4.5% ABV. Adjust counts if your servings differ.
How many units in a glass of wine?
One 175 ml glass at 12% ABV is about 2.1 UK units or 1.2 US standard drinks.
What is the 14-unit UK guideline?
UK health bodies advise staying at or below 14 units per week to limit long-term health risks.
Does ABV affect units?
Yes. Higher alcohol percentage or larger volume increases units proportionally.