Free UK alcohol unit calculator. Calculate how many units are in any drink and compare against the NHS recommended limit of 14 units per week. Includes quick pick buttons for common UK drinks, a custom drink calculator and a weekly unit tracker.
How to Use This Alcohol Unit Calculator
Choose a drink from the quick pick buttons at the top — includes pints, wine glasses, spirits, cider and more. Or enter your own drink by typing the ABV percentage and volume in millilitres. Use the plus and minus buttons to set how many drinks you had. Then click Calculate Units to see your results. Use the weekly tracker at the bottom to log your units across the whole week.
What Is an Alcohol Unit
One UK alcohol unit contains 10ml or 8 grams of pure alcohol. The number of units in a drink depends on its strength measured as ABV which stands for Alcohol by Volume and its size in millilitres. The formula is ABV multiplied by volume in millilitres divided by 1000. For example a pint of 4 percent lager at 568ml contains 2.3 units. A 175ml glass of 13 percent wine contains 2.3 units.
What Is the NHS Alcohol Guideline
The NHS recommends that both men and women drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. These 14 units should be spread over three or more days rather than consumed in one or two sessions. The NHS also recommends having several alcohol-free days each week. Drinking above 14 units per week on a regular basis increases the risk of serious health conditions including liver disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers and heart disease.
How Many Units Are in Common UK Drinks
A pint of 4 percent lager or beer contains around 2.3 units. A 175ml glass of wine at 13 percent contains around 2.3 units. A 250ml large glass of wine contains around 3.3 units. A single 25ml measure of spirits at 40 percent contains 1.0 unit. A double 50ml measure contains 2.0 units. A 440ml can of 5 percent cider contains around 2.2 units. A standard 275ml alcopop at 5 percent contains around 1.4 units. A full 750ml bottle of wine at 12 percent contains around 9 units.
What Is the Weekly Unit Tracker
The weekly unit tracker at the bottom of the tool lets you enter how many units you drank each day from Monday to Sunday. It totals your units for the week and shows your progress against the NHS limit of 14 units. It uses a colour coded bar — green for within the limit, amber for approaching the limit and red for over the limit.
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System
The liver processes roughly one unit of alcohol per hour. This is a general estimate and varies based on your weight, age, sex, metabolism and whether you have eaten. This calculator gives you an estimated processing time based on the number of units in your drink. It is not a measure of when you are safe to drive — do not drive until the morning after a night of drinking and always err on the side of caution.
Tips for Reducing Your Alcohol Intake
The NHS recommends having several alcohol-free days each week, alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks or water, choosing lower ABV drinks where possible, eating before or during drinking, and avoiding rounds and shots. Tracking your units using a tool like this one is one of the most effective ways to become more aware of how much you are drinking.
Frequently Asked Questions : FAQs
How do I calculate alcohol units?
Multiply the ABV percentage by the volume in millilitres and divide by 1000. For example a 330ml can of beer at 4 percent ABV equals 330 multiplied by 4 divided by 1000 which equals 1.32 units.
What is the NHS recommended alcohol limit?
The NHS recommends a maximum of 14 units per week for both men and women spread over three or more days.
How many calories are in alcohol?
Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram which makes it almost as calorie-dense as fat. A pint of lager contains around 180 to 250 calories. A large glass of wine contains around 190 to 230 calories. A double spirit with a mixer can contain 100 to 200 calories.
Can I check if I am over the weekly limit?
Yes. Use the weekly unit tracker at the bottom of the tool to enter your units for each day of the week. It automatically compares your total against the NHS 14 unit limit.
Is this alcohol unit calculator free?
Completely free. No sign up, no login, no limits.
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Last updated: March 2026 · Free tool by AllTheTools.com · For support visit drinkaware.co.uk