| Size | US drinks | UK units | Irish | Australian | Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 ml bottle“half pint” | 4.5 | 8.0 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 4.7 |
| 375 ml bottle“pint or half bottle” | 8.5 | 15.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 8.8 |
| 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 vodka 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 |
| 375 ml bottle“pint or half bottle” | 8.5 | 15.0 | 10.6 |
| 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 |
750 ml bottle ("fifth") of vodka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.5% | 15.9 | 28.1 | 22.5 | 22.5 | 16.5 |
| 40% | 16.9 | 30.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 17.6 |
| 45% | 19.0 | 33.8 | 27.0 | 27.0 | 19.8 |
| 50% | 21.1 | 37.5 | 30.0 | 30.0 | 22.0 |
How many shots of vodka are in each bottle?
A shot is a different size in each country. NIAAA counts a 1.5 fl oz (44 ml) shot of 40% spirits as one US standard drink. The NHS counts a 25 ml single of 40% vodka as 1 UK unit, and the HSE counts a 35.5 ml single measure of 40% spirits as one Irish standard drink. The shots table divides each bottle by each of those measures.
So the answer depends on where you pour: a 70 cl bottle gives 28.0 UK singles, 19.7 Irish measures or 15.8 US shots. NIAAA notes that standard drink amounts may not reflect customary serving sizes.
Vodka at 37.5%, 40% and stronger
Vodka strength is printed on the label as ABV or % vol. Rethinking Drinking notes that alcohol content varies considerably within each type of drink, so the strength table shows a 750 ml bottle at several strengths. Find the row that matches your label, or enter it in the calculator further down.
The difference is small per shot but adds up over a bottle: at 37.5% a 70 cl bottle holds 26.3 UK units, against 28.0 at 40%.
A bottle of vodka next to the weekly guidelines
The NHS advises adults not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. A 70 cl bottle of 40% vodka holds 28.0 units, twice that amount. In Ireland, the HSE low-risk guideline is no more than 11 standard drinks a week for women and 17 for men; the same bottle holds 22.4 Irish standard drinks.
Work it out for your vodka
The calculator opens on the 750 ml bottle ("fifth") at 40%. Change the size or strength to match yours.
A typical strength is filled in. Check your label.
That is
16.9 US standard drinks
= 30.0 UK units
= 24.0 Irish standard drinks
= 24.0 Australian standard drinks
= 17.6 Canadian standard drinks
Each one is 16.9 × one US standard drink:
Common questions
How many shots are in a fifth of vodka?
Rethinking Drinking calls a 750 ml bottle a "fifth" and counts it as about 17 US standard drinks at 40%. By our arithmetic that is 16.9 shots of 1.5 fl oz, 30.0 UK singles of 25 ml or 21.1 Irish measures of 35.5 ml.
How many units are in a 70cl bottle of vodka?
At 40%, a 70 cl bottle holds 28.0 UK units, using the NHS formula: 40 × 700 ÷ 1,000. At 37.5% it holds 26.3. Check the % vol on your label before you count.
How many standard drinks are in a shot of vodka?
By NIAAA's definition a 1.5 fl oz shot of 40% vodka is one US standard drink. A 25 ml UK single at 40% is 1 UK unit and 0.6 US standard drinks, and the HSE counts a 35.5 ml single measure as one Irish standard drink.
How many standard drinks are in a 1.75 litre bottle of vodka?
At 40%, a 1.75 litre bottle holds 39.4 US standard drinks and 70.0 UK units. Poured as 1.5 fl oz shots, that is 39.4 shots, each one US standard drink.
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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