| Size | US drinks | UK units | Irish | Australian | Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 fl oz can or bottle (355 ml) | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 |
| 16 fl oz can (473 ml) | 1.3 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.4 |
| 24 fl oz can (710 ml) | 2.0 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.1 |
| 40 fl oz bottle (1,183 ml) | 3.3 | 5.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 3.5 |
| 330 ml bottle | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| 440 ml can | 1.2 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 |
| 500 ml can | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
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.
12 fl oz can or bottle (355 ml) of beer at other strengths
Find the % vol or ABV on your label. The numbers are our arithmetic, not typical strengths.
| Strength | US drinks | UK units | Irish | Australian | Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2% | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| 5% | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 |
| 5.5% | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
| 7% | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| 10% | 2.0 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.1 |
Cans of beer in US standard drinks
NIAAA counts a 12-ounce can of regular beer at 5% as one standard drink, and the same can of 10% craft beer as two. Rethinking Drinking counts a 16 fl oz can of regular beer as 1⅓ drinks and a 40 fl oz bottle as 3⅓.
Bigger cans follow the same sum: a 24 fl oz can at 5% is 2.0 US standard drinks, and at 8% it is 3.2.
Cans of beer in UK units
The NHS counts a 330 ml bottle of 5% beer as 1.7 units and a 440 ml can at 5.5% as 2.4 units. A 500 ml can at 5% is 2.5 units by the same formula, and the HSE's rough guide counts a 500 ml can at 4.3% as 2 Irish standard drinks (the exact sum gives 1.7).
Light beer and strong beer
Rethinking Drinking says many light beers have almost as much alcohol as regular beer, about 85% as much: 4.2% against 5% on average. A 12 fl oz can of 4.2% light beer is 0.8 US standard drinks; a 12 fl oz can of 7% beer is 1.4.
Work it out for your beer
The calculator opens on the 12 fl oz can or bottle (355 ml) at 5%. Change the size or strength to match yours.
A typical strength is filled in. Check your label.
That is
1.0 US standard drinks
= 1.8 UK units
= 1.4 Irish standard drinks
= 1.4 Australian standard drinks
= 1.0 Canadian standard drinks
Each one is 1.0 × one US standard drink:
Common questions
How many standard drinks are in a 12 oz beer?
At 5%, one: that is NIAAA's own example of a standard drink. At 4.2% it is 0.8, at 7% 1.4 and at 10% 2.0, the two drinks NIAAA gives for a 10% craft beer.
How many units are in a can of beer?
The NHS counts a 440 ml can of 5.5% beer as 2.4 units. A 330 ml can or bottle at 5% is 1.7 units, the same as the NHS bottle example, and a 500 ml can at 5% is 2.5.
How many shots of vodka equal a can of beer?
By alcohol, a 12 fl oz can of 5% beer and a 1.5 fl oz shot of 40% vodka are each one US standard drink. A 440 ml can at 5.5% holds as much alcohol as 1.4 of those shots.
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
- Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. ccsa.ca
- Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol. National Health and Medical Research Council. nhmrc.gov.au
Page last reviewed 2026-10-04.
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