Health & Wellbeing2 min check

Alcohol Units Calculator

Tot up your weekly UK alcohol units to see where you sit against the 14-units-per-week low-risk guideline.

Short answer

UK Chief Medical Officers say no more than 14 units per week, spread over 3+ days, with several alcohol-free days. Units = (% ABV × ml) ÷ 1000. A pint of 5% beer ≈ 2.8 units; a 175ml glass of 13% wine ≈ 2.3 units; a 25ml shot of 40% spirit ≈ 1 unit.

Step 1 of 10%

How it works

1 UK unit = 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. Formula: (ABV % × volume in ml) ÷ 1000.

Examples: pint of 5% beer (568ml) = 2.84 units. 175ml of 13% wine = 2.28 units. 250ml of 13% wine = 3.25 units. 25ml shot of 40% = 1 unit.

Worked example

4 pints of lager + 3 glasses of wine + 0 spirits per week:

Beer: 4 × 2.8 = 11.2
Wine: 3 × 2.3 = 6.9
Total: 18.1 units → above the 14-unit guideline

Who should use this

•Anyone wanting to track their drinking
•People considering cutting down
•Pre-conception planning

Common mistakes

×Counting 'a glass of wine' as 1 unit (a 250ml glass of 13% wine is 3.25 units)
×Forgetting larger pour sizes at home
×Ignoring strong craft beers and ciders (often 6-8% ABV)
×Calculating only days drunk, missing total weekly units

Frequently asked questions

How many units in a pint of beer?▾

About 2.3 (3.6%), 2.8 (5%) or 3.5 (6%). Strong craft can be 4+ units.

Is red wine good for the heart?▾

Older studies suggested benefit; newer evidence finds no safe level. NHS advice is to stay within 14 units regardless.

Can I 'save up' my 14 units for the weekend?▾

No — bingeing is more harmful. Spread across 3+ days and have alcohol-free days.

How long does alcohol take to leave my body?▾

About 1 unit per hour for an average adult, with a 1-2 hour delay before processing starts.

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