A typical strength is filled in. Check your label.
That is
1.2 US standard drinks
= 2.1 UK units
= 1.7 Irish standard drinks
= 1.2 Canadian standard drinks
Each one is 1.2 × one US standard drink:
Standard drinks in common drinks
At the typical strength shown. Your drink may be stronger or weaker: the label tells you.
| Drink | Strength | US standard drinks | UK units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer or cider, 12 oz can or bottle (355 ml) | 5% | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| Beer or cider, uK pint (568 ml) | 5.2% | 1.7 | 3.0 |
| Beer or cider, uS pint (16 oz, 473 ml) | 5% | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Wine, 5 oz glass (148 ml) | 12% | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| Wine, standard glass (175 ml) | 12% | 1.2 | 2.1 |
| Wine, large glass (250 ml) | 12% | 1.7 | 3.0 |
| Wine, bottle (750 ml) | 12% | 5.1 | 9.0 |
| Spirits, 1.5 oz shot (44 ml) | 40% | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| Spirits, uK single (25 ml) | 40% | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| Seltzer or malt liquor, 12 oz can (355 ml) | 5% | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| Seltzer or malt liquor, 9 oz malt liquor (266 ml) | 7% | 1.0 | 1.9 |
How the calculator works
It works out how much pure alcohol is in your drink: the volume multiplied by the strength. A 175 ml glass of 12% wine holds 21 ml of pure alcohol.
- US standard drinks: pure alcohol in fl oz divided by 0.6, the amount the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism uses for one standard drink.
- UK units: strength (ABV) × volume (ml) ÷ 1,000, the NHS formula. One unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol.
Nothing you enter is sent anywhere: the sums run in your browser.
How does this compare with drinking guidelines?
In the UK, the NHS advises men and women not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, and to spread drinking over 3 or more days if they regularly drink as much as 14 units a week. Guidelines differ from country to country, and so does the size of a “standard drink”, so compare your number with the guidance where you live.
Questions people ask
How many standard drinks are in a bottle of wine?
A 750 ml bottle of 12% wine holds about 5.1 US standard drinks, or 9.0 UK units. Stronger wines hold more: change the strength in the calculator to match your label.
How many units are in a pint?
The NHS gives 2 units for a pint of lower-strength (3.6%) lager, beer or cider and 3 units for a pint of higher-strength (5.2%) lager, beer or cider.
Is a UK unit the same as a US standard drink?
No. A UK unit is 10 ml (8 g) of pure alcohol. A US standard drink is about 0.6 fl oz (14 g), so one US standard drink is about 1.8 UK units.
Why is my glass more than one drink?
Standard drinks are measured, not poured. A large 250 ml glass of 12% wine is 3 UK units, or about 1.7 US standard drinks: more than one, even though it is one glass.
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
- What Is A Standard Drink?. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). niaaa.nih.gov
- Alcohol units. NHS. nhs.uk
- Alcohol-use disorder. NHS. nhs.uk
- Alcohol support. NHS. nhs.uk
- FindTreatment.gov (help resources). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). findtreatment.gov
Page last reviewed 2026-10-03.
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