This alcohol units calculator counts how much you drink in a typical week. It converts beer, wine and spirits into UK units and into standard drinks for the US, Canada and Australia, and compares your total with each country’s health guidelines.
| Drink | Size (ml) | Strength (% ABV) | How many a week |
|---|---|---|---|
Units and standard drinks
| Country | One unit or standard drink | Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 10 ml (8 g) of pure alcohol | No more than 14 units a week, spread over 3 or more days |
| Australia | 10 g | No more than 10 standard drinks a week and 4 on any one day |
| Canada | 13.45 g | 2 or fewer a week is low risk; 3–6 moderate; 7 or more increasingly high (2023 guidance) |
| United States | 14 g | The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines advise drinking less, without a numeric limit |
How to count units
UK units = volume (ml) × ABV (%) ÷ 1,000. A pint of 4.5% beer is 568 × 4.5 ÷ 1,000 = 2.6 units, and a 175 ml glass of 13% wine is 2.3 units.
Worked example
Two pints of 4.5% beer, three 175 ml glasses of 13% wine and two 25 ml measures of 40% spirits add up to 13.9 UK units a week, within the UK guideline of 14 units.
Tips for drinking less
- Have several alcohol-free days each week.
- Choose smaller glasses and lower-strength drinks.
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with water.
Frequently asked questions
How many units are in a bottle of wine?
A 750 ml bottle of 13% wine contains about 9.8 UK units.
Is a UK unit the same as a US standard drink?
No. A UK unit is 8 g of alcohol, while a US standard drink is 14 g, so one US drink is about 1.75 UK units.
Is any amount of alcohol safe?
Health bodies say no level is completely risk-free. The risk of cancer and other harms rises with the amount you drink.
How long does it take to process one unit?
Roughly one hour per UK unit for most adults, but this varies. Use the BAC calculator for a blood alcohol estimate.
Related calculators
Sources
- UK Chief Medical Officers: Low risk drinking guidelines
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation: Australian alcohol guidelines (NHMRC 2020)
- CCSA: Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health
- Reuters via GV Wire: 2025–2030 US Dietary Guidelines on alcohol
Last reviewed: October 2026. For information only; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor about any health concerns.