One unit of alcohol is 10ml of pure alcohol โ roughly half a pint of standard lager, a single measure of spirits, or a small glass of wine.
Volume: 568ml
This adds 2.3 units
Total
0.0 units
One unit of alcohol is 10ml (8g) of pure ethanol โ the standard UK measure used in health guidelines since 1987. Knowing your units lets you compare drinks of very different strengths and sizes on a level playing field.
The formula is: ABV% ร volume in ml รท 1000. So a pint of 4% lager is 4 ร 568 รท 1000 = 2.3 units. A large glass of 13% wine is 13 ร 250 รท 1000 = 3.25 units. The same formula works for any drink โ just enter a custom volume and ABV if your drink isn't in the list.
A single 25ml measure of spirits (40% ABV) is exactly 1 unit. A small glass of wine (125ml, 12%) is 1.5 units. A standard pint of 4% lager is about 2.3 units. A large glass of wine (250ml, 13%) is around 3.25 units. Stronger craft beers and double spirits add up faster than most people expect.
The Chief Medical Officers recommend drinking no more than 14 units per week on a regular basis โ equivalent to about 6 pints of average-strength beer, or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.
Spread your drinking across three or more days rather than saving it all for the weekend. Having several alcohol-free days each week reduces both your total intake and the risk of forming a habit. Drinking large amounts in a single session โ sometimes called binge drinking โ carries higher short-term risks even if your weekly total stays under 14 units.
Since 2016 the UK guideline is 14 units for both men and women. Previously men had a higher limit, but the updated guidance reflects evidence that the same amount of alcohol typically affects women more acutely due to differences in body composition, water content, and metabolism. Individual factors โ weight, age, medication, and whether you've eaten โ also affect how alcohol is processed.
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (35ฮผg per 100ml of breath). In Scotland it's stricter: 50mg per 100ml of blood. Units cannot reliably predict your blood alcohol level โ how quickly alcohol enters your bloodstream depends on your weight, sex, age, food intake, and individual metabolism. The only safe choice before driving is no alcohol at all.
On average, the body processes roughly one unit per hour โ but this varies considerably between individuals and cannot be relied on as a precise guide. Coffee, food, and fresh air do not speed up this process. Time is the only way to reduce blood alcohol concentration. If in doubt, don't drive.