| Drink | US drinks | UK units | Irish | Australian | Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka750 ml bottle ("fifth"), 40% | 16.9 | 30.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 17.6 |
| Whiskey70 cl bottle (700 ml), 40% | 15.8 | 28.0 | 22.4 | 22.4 | 16.4 |
| Tequila750 ml bottle ("fifth"), 40% | 16.9 | 30.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 17.6 |
| Rum70 cl bottle (700 ml), 40% | 15.8 | 28.0 | 22.4 | 22.4 | 16.4 |
| Gin70 cl bottle (700 ml), 40% | 15.8 | 28.0 | 22.4 | 22.4 | 16.4 |
| Soju360 ml bottle, 16.5% | 3.3 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 3.5 |
| Sake720 ml bottle, 15% | 6.1 | 10.8 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 6.3 |
| Champagne750 ml bottle, 12% | 5.1 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 5.3 |
| Prosecco750 ml bottle, 11% | 4.6 | 8.3 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 4.8 |
| Cider440 ml can, 5.5% | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.4 |
| Beer12 fl oz can or bottle (355 ml), 5% | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 |
| Hard seltzer12 fl oz can or bottle (355 ml), 5% | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 |
US drinks: US standard drinks (0.6 fl oz of pure alcohol). UK units: 10 ml of pure alcohol. Irish: standard drinks of 10 g. Australian: standard drinks of 10 g. Canadian: standard drinks of 341 ml of 5% beer.
Wine and pints have their own guides: How many units are in a bottle of wine? A table for every strength and How many units are in a pint? Lager, beer and cider by strength.
Shots in a fifth of spirits
Rethinking Drinking calls a 750 ml bottle of spirits a “fifth” and counts it, at 40% (80 proof), as about 17 US standard drinks. Poured as 1.5 fl oz US shots it gives 16.9 shots, as 25 ml UK singles 30.0, and as 35.5 ml Irish single measures 21.1.
How the numbers are worked out
Each number is the pure alcohol in the drink (volume × strength) divided by one country's standard drink: 0.6 fl oz in the US (NIAAA), 10 ml for a UK unit (the NHS formula is strength × ml ÷ 1,000), 10 g in Ireland (HSE) and Australia (NHMRC), and 341 ml of 5% beer in Canada. Irish and Australian grams are converted to millilitres with the NHS equivalence of 10 ml = 8 g.
Strengths are examples to compare with your label unless a source gives them: NIAAA and the NHS use 40% for spirits, and NIAAA uses 5% for regular beer. For any other drink or size, use the standard drink calculator.
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
- How Many Drinks are in Common Containers?. NIAAA Rethinking Drinking. rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov
- Alcohol units. NHS. nhs.uk
- Weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines. Health Service Executive (Ireland). hse.ie
- Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol. National Health and Medical Research Council. nhmrc.gov.au
- Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. ccsa.ca
Page last reviewed 2026-10-04.
Keep your progress on your phone
We're building a companion mobile app for dry months and drink-free days, with reminders you choose. It isn't out yet. Leave your email to get notified when it launches.