Alcohol Units Calculator
Calculate alcohol units in your drinks. Track against the NHS guideline of 14 units per week.
Source: NHS — Calculating alcohol units
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Founder, Calks.uk
Last updated: · Verified against HMRC and GOV.UK 2026/27 rates
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Disclaimer
This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
How It Works
Alcohol units are calculated with the formula: volume (ml) × ABV (%) ÷ 1,000. One unit equals 10 ml (8 g) of pure alcohol. A standard 175 ml glass of 12% wine is 2.1 units. A pint of 4% lager is 2.3 units. A 25 ml measure of 40% spirits is 1 unit.
The NHS advises that adults should not regularly drink more than 14 units per week, spread over 3 or more days. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption. Binge drinking is defined as consuming more than 6 units (women) or 8 units (men) in a single session.
This calculator also estimates the calories in each drink. Alcohol contains 7 kcal per gram, making it nearly as calorie-dense as fat. A pint of lager typically contains 180–230 kcal, and a large glass of wine around 230 kcal. Enter the drink type, volume and ABV to see units and calories.
What is a UK alcohol unit? 1 unit = 10ml (or 8g) of pure alcohol. Calculated as: ABV% × volume (ml) ÷ 1,000. Examples: pint of 4% lager (568ml) = 2.3 units; pint of 5% craft beer = 2.8 units; 175ml glass of 13% wine = 2.3 units; bottle of 13% wine (750ml) = 9.75 units; 25ml single 40% spirits = 1 unit. UK pub serves: single shot is 25ml in England/Wales (35ml common in clubs), 25ml in Scotland by default.
UK Chief Medical Officers' (CMO) guidelines. No more than 14 units per week for men and women (revised 2016 down from 21 men/14 women). Spread across 3+ days — not all in one session (binge drinking). Pregnancy: NHS advises zero alcohol. 14 units = about 6 pints of 4% beer, OR 7 medium glasses (175ml) of wine, OR 14 single shots. Lifelong drinking at 14 units/week increases mortality risk slightly compared to teetotal — there is no truly 'safe' amount but 14 is considered low risk.
Drink-driving limits — England, Wales, NI vs Scotland. England/Wales/NI: 80 mg alcohol per 100 ml blood (one of highest limits in Europe). Scotland (since 2014): 50 mg/100 ml — significantly lower. In practice: for a 75kg man, England limit = ~3-4 units (2 pints lager); Scotland = ~1.5-2 units (1 pint). Always vary by sex, weight, food eaten, time. Best advice: zero alcohol before driving — morning-after risk often underestimated (8+ hours after last drink for 6+ units consumed evening before).
Calories in alcohol — surprisingly significant. Pure alcohol = 7 kcal/gram (compared to carbs 4, fat 9). Pint of 4% lager: ~180 kcal. Pint of 5% craft beer: ~250 kcal. 175ml glass of red wine: ~160 kcal. Bottle of wine: ~625 kcal (¼ of daily intake). Gin & tonic (double): ~200 kcal. Pina Colada: 480 kcal. Annual: drinking 14 units/week = 18,200 kcal/year = 5lb (2.4 kg) weight gain if not compensated. 'Beer belly' is real — alcohol calories are stored preferentially as visceral fat.
Health risks at different intake levels. 1-14 units/week: low risk (CMO). 14-35 units: increased risk of high blood pressure, liver disease, several cancers (breast, throat, liver, colon). 35-50 units: high risk — liver inflammation, neurological issues, mental health impact. 50+ units: dependence likely, severe liver damage probable. NHS recommends 2-3 alcohol-free days/week to allow liver recovery. Stopping for January ('Dry January'): liver enzymes normalise in 4-6 weeks abstinence; sleep, mood, blood pressure improve within 2 weeks.
Example: Friday evening — 2 pints of 5% lager + 2 glasses of 13% wine (175 ml)
- Pint of 5% lager: 568 ml × 5 ÷ 1,000 = 2.8 units each
- 175 ml glass of 13% wine: 175 × 13 ÷ 1,000 = 2.3 units each
- Total: (2 × 2.8) + (2 × 2.3) = 10.2 units
- Estimated calories: ~910 kcal
- Weekly allowance used in one session: 73% of 14 units
Source: NHS — Calculating alcohol units
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the Alcohol Units Calculator do?
- Calculate alcohol units in your drinks. Track against the NHS guideline of 14 units per week.
- What's the UK low-risk drinking guideline?
- UK Chief Medical Officers' guidelines (2016, still current): no more than 14 units per week for both men and women, spread over 3+ days, with several alcohol-free days. 14 units = 6 pints of average strength beer or 10 small (125ml) glasses of low-strength wine, or 14 single (25ml) measures of spirits. Pregnant women are advised no alcohol. There's no completely 'safe' level — risks increase with consumption.
- How are alcohol units calculated?
- Units = (ABV % × volume in ml) ÷ 1,000. A 175ml glass of 12% wine = (12 × 175) ÷ 1,000 = 2.1 units. A pint of 4% beer = (4 × 568) ÷ 1,000 = 2.27 units. A 25ml shot of 40% spirits = 1 unit. Modern wines are stronger (often 12.5-14% vs 'old' 11%), and pints often 4.5-5.5% — actual units can be 30-50% higher than rough estimates.
- What are the health risks of exceeding 14 units?
- Above 14 units/week increases risks of: liver disease (cirrhosis, fatty liver), 7 types of cancer (bowel, breast, mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, voice box), heart disease and stroke, mental health problems, and accidents. NHS estimates 80% of alcoholic liver disease occurs in people drinking above guidelines. Dependence develops gradually — symptoms include needing alcohol to function, drinking before noon, hiding consumption. Free help: Drinkline 0300 123 1110.