| Size | US drinks | UK units | Irish | Australian | Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 ml bottle“half pint” | 4.5 | 8.0 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 4.7 |
| 35 cl bottle (350 ml) | 7.9 | 14.0 | 11.2 | 11.2 | 8.2 |
| 70 cl bottle (700 ml) | 15.8 | 28.0 | 22.4 | 22.4 | 16.4 |
| 750 ml bottle“fifth” | 16.9 | 30.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 17.6 |
| 1 litre bottle | 22.5 | 40.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 23.5 |
| 1.75 litre bottle | 39.4 | 70.0 | 56.0 | 56.0 | 41.1 |
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.
Shots of rum in each bottle
How many measures each bottle pours, at any strength. A US shot is 1.5 fl oz (NIAAA), a UK single is 25 ml (NHS) and an Irish single measure is 35.5 ml (HSE).
| Size | 1.5 fl oz US shots | 25 ml UK singles | 35.5 ml Irish measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 ml bottle“half pint” | 4.5 | 8.0 | 5.6 |
| 35 cl bottle (350 ml) | 7.9 | 14.0 | 9.9 |
| 70 cl bottle (700 ml) | 15.8 | 28.0 | 19.7 |
| 750 ml bottle“fifth” | 16.9 | 30.0 | 21.1 |
| 1 litre bottle | 22.5 | 40.0 | 28.2 |
| 1.75 litre bottle | 39.4 | 70.0 | 49.3 |
70 cl bottle (700 ml) of rum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35% | 13.8 | 24.5 | 19.6 | 19.6 | 14.4 |
| 37.5% | 14.8 | 26.3 | 21.0 | 21.0 | 15.4 |
| 40% | 15.8 | 28.0 | 22.4 | 22.4 | 16.4 |
| 43% | 17.0 | 30.1 | 24.1 | 24.1 | 17.7 |
Rum measures in a bottle
A 70 cl bottle of 40% rum holds 28.0 UK singles of 25 ml, each 1 UK unit. Measured as US shots of 1.5 fl oz it is 15.8, and as Irish single measures of 35.5 ml it is 19.7.
Rum in a mixed drink
A rum and cola holds the same alcohol as the rum poured into it: a mixer without alcohol adds volume, not alcohol. One 25 ml single of 40% rum is 1 UK unit with or without the cola. Rethinking Drinking counts a mixed drink or cocktail as one standard drink or more, depending on the recipe.
Weaker and stronger rums
Rum is labelled with its strength as ABV or % vol. A 70 cl bottle at 37.5% holds 26.3 UK units; the same bottle at 40% holds 28.0. Rethinking Drinking notes that alcohol content varies considerably within each type of drink, so the label beats any typical figure.
Work it out for your rum
The calculator opens on the 70 cl bottle (700 ml) at 40%. Change the size or strength to match yours.
A typical strength is filled in. Check your label.
That is
15.8 US standard drinks
= 28.0 UK units
= 22.4 Irish standard drinks
= 22.4 Australian standard drinks
= 16.4 Canadian standard drinks
Each one is 15.8 × one US standard drink:
Common questions
How many shots are in a 70cl bottle of rum?
A 70 cl bottle pours 28.0 UK singles of 25 ml, 19.7 Irish measures of 35.5 ml or 15.8 US shots of 1.5 fl oz. At 40%, each UK single is 1 unit and each US shot is one standard drink.
How many standard drinks are in a 750ml bottle of rum?
At 40%, 16.9 US standard drinks, 24.0 Irish and 17.6 Canadian standard drinks. Rethinking Drinking rounds the 750 ml "fifth" of 40% spirits to about 17 US standard drinks.
How many units are in a glass of rum and coke?
Count the rum, not the glass: each 25 ml of 40% rum is 1 UK unit, so a drink made with a 50 ml pour is 2.0 units however much cola is added. With a large 35 ml single it is 1.4 units.
How many units are in a litre bottle of rum?
At 40%, a 1 litre bottle holds 40.0 UK units by the NHS formula (40 × 1,000 ÷ 1,000) and 22.5 US standard drinks. At 37.5% it holds 37.5 units.
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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