DrinkFewer

Alcohol guidelines by country

The UK advises no more than 14 units a week. Ireland sets 11 standard drinks for women and 17 for men. Canada calls 1 to 2 drinks a week low risk. The numbers differ partly because each country sizes a “drink” differently, so enter your week below to see it in each country's own terms.

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Each country sizes a “drink” differently, so we convert your week into each one before comparing. Nothing you type is saved or sent.

  • United Kingdom

    UK Chief Medical Officers, Low Risk Drinking Guidelines (2016)
    Per week
    No more than 14 units a week for both women and men, to keep health risks low.
    Per day or occasion
    If you drink as much as 14 units a week, preferably spread it over three or more days.
    Source: gov.scot

  • Ireland

    Health Service Executive (HSE), Weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines
    Per week
    No more than 11 standard drinks a week for women and 17 for men, with at least 2 to 3 alcohol-free days.
    Per day or occasion
    No more than 6 standard drinks on any one occasion.

    The HSE says the evidence behind these limits is under review, with an update due when the review is completed in 2026.

    Source: hse.ie

  • Canada

    Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health (2023)
    Per week
    1 to 2 standard drinks a week is low risk, 3 to 6 is moderate risk, and 7 or more is increasingly high risk.
    Per day or occasion
    If you drink, don't exceed 2 drinks on any day.
    Source: ccsa.ca

Why a “drink” is not the same everywhere

A guideline is only as clear as the drink it counts. These are the sizes each country uses:

  • United States: One US standard drink contains about 14 grams, or about 0.6 fluid ounces, of pure alcohol.
  • United Kingdom: One UK unit is 10 ml or 8 g of pure alcohol.
  • Ireland: In Ireland, a standard drink has 10 g of pure alcohol.
  • Canada: In Canada, a standard drink is 341 ml (12 oz) of 5% beer, cider or cooler, 142 ml (5 oz) of 12% wine, or 43 ml (1.5 oz) of 40% spirits.

So 14 UK units is about 11 Irish standard drinks or 8 Canadian ones. The standard drink calculator shows what your own glass holds in each.

How to read these guidelines

  • They describe lower risk, not no risk. Ireland's HSE says the less you drink, the lower your risk; Canada's guidance says drinking less benefits you and others.
  • Weekly limits assume drinking is spread out. The UK advises spreading it over three or more days, and the HSE says it is not safe to drink your weekly limit in one session or over a couple of nights.
  • They are for adults. The UK and Ireland advise no alcohol during pregnancy; Canada says there is no known safe amount.

Want a fuller picture of your own drinking? The AUDIT-C check takes about a minute.

What about the US and Australia?

We add a country only after reading its guideline in the original document. The US and Australian rows are waiting on that check, so they are not shown yet rather than shown from second-hand reports.

When to get help

This site offers self-help tools and information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor, or call one of the lines below, if:

  • you feel shaky, sweaty, sick or anxious when you haven't had a drink;
  • you find it hard to stop once you start, or you want to cut down and can't;
  • drinking is causing problems with your health, work or the people close to you.

Before you stop: It can be very dangerous to stop drinking suddenly if you are dependent on alcohol. If you get withdrawal symptoms, get medical help before you try to stop drinking.

Free, confidential helplines

  • United States:SAMHSA National Helpline1-800-662-HELP (4357)Treatment referral and information, 24/7.
  • United States:988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988Free and confidential support for people in distress, 24/7.
  • United Kingdom:Drinkline0300 123 1110The national alcohol helpline, free and in complete confidence. Weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm.

In an emergency, call your local emergency number.

Sources

  1. UK Chief Medical Officers' Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. UK Chief Medical Officers. gov.scot
  2. Weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines. Health Service Executive (Ireland). hse.ie
  3. Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. ccsa.ca
  4. What Is A Standard Drink?. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). niaaa.nih.gov
  5. Alcohol units. NHS. nhs.uk

Page last reviewed 2026-10-03.