What is one UK alcohol unit?
One UK unit = 10ml or 8 grams of pure ethanol, different from US standard drink (14 grams = 1.75 UK units).
Health Fitness
Alcohol Unit Calculator
Calculate how many alcohol units are in a given drink
Track Your Alcohol Intake
Compute total units for various beverages
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What this calculator does
An alcohol unit calculator measures pure alcohol using the UK standard of 1 unit = 10 ml (8 grams) of pure ethanol. This helps monitor consumption against health guidelines. One unit takes about one hour to process.
How it works
The calculator uses: Strength (ABV%) × Volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = units.
Formula
Units = (ABV% × Volume in ml) ÷ 1,000. UK guidance recommends max 14 units weekly.
Tips for using this calculator
- Check ABV on drink labels before calculating
- Pub spirits are 25ml (1 unit); home pours often 50ml (2 units)
- One unit takes ~1 hour to process
- Spread weekly units across multiple days
- Include drink-free days each week
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate units without knowing ABV?
Check bottle labels—ABV is always listed. Common ranges: beer 4-6%, wine 11-15%, spirits 35-40%.
How does processing time work?
About 1 hour per unit for average adults. 6 units = ~6 hours to process completely.