# Alcohol Unit Calculator Convert any drink's volume and ABV into US standard drinks (NIAAA) and UK units (NHS). --- - **Canonical URL:** https://dothecalculation.com/calculators/alcohol-unit-calculator - **Category:** Health and fitness - **Publisher:** Do The Calculation (https://dothecalculation.com) - **Cost:** Free, no account or sign-up required - **Privacy:** Runs entirely in the browser; inputs are never sent to a server - **Methodology:** https://dothecalculation.com/methodology --- ## Convert any drink into standard drinks and units Enter a drink's volume and ABV to see how many US standard drinks (NIAAA) and UK units it contains — useful for comparing drinks that look different but contain very different amounts of alcohol. - NIAAA standard drink definition (14g pure alcohol) - UK unit definition (10 mL / 8g pure alcohol) side by side - Works for any beer, wine, or spirit — enter the actual volume and ABV ## Why 'one drink' isn't a fixed amount A 12 oz can of 5% beer, a 5 oz glass of 12% wine, and a 1.5 oz shot of 40% spirit are often described as roughly equivalent 'one drink' servings — but that equivalence only holds at those specific volumes and strengths. A 16 oz pint of 7% craft beer, a generously poured 8 oz glass of wine, or a double shot all contain meaningfully more alcohol than the standard reference serving, even though each still looks like 'one drink' in a glass. This calculator converts any actual volume and ABV into standard drinks and units, so you can compare what you're actually pouring against the reference definitions rather than assuming a glass equals a unit. ## The NIAAA standard drink (US) The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines one standard drink as containing roughly 14 grams (0.6 fl oz) of pure alcohol. That works out to about 12 fl oz of regular beer (5% ABV), 5 fl oz of table wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 fl oz of distilled spirits (40% ABV, 80 proof) — three very different serving sizes that happen to contain the same amount of pure alcohol. ## The UK unit (NHS) The UK's NHS defines one unit as 10 mL (about 8 grams) of pure alcohol — a smaller reference amount than the US standard drink, which is why the same beer or glass of wine converts to a larger unit count than US standard-drink count. UK unit guidance also recommends spreading drinking over three or more days if consuming up to the weekly guideline, rather than concentrating it — a framing this calculator doesn't attempt to score or evaluate. ## The formula Pure alcohol (grams) = Volume (mL) × (ABV ÷ 100) × 0.789, where 0.789 g/mL is the density of ethanol. US standard drinks = pure alcohol grams ÷ 14. UK units = (Volume in mL × ABV) ÷ 1,000. Both formulas only need the volume and ABV printed on most drink labels. ## Worked example: a 12 oz can of 5% beer 12 fl oz converts to about 354.9 mL. Pure alcohol = 354.9 × 0.05 × 0.789 ≈ 14.0 grams. That's almost exactly 1.0 US standard drink and about 1.8 UK units — confirming the commonly cited '12 oz of 5% beer = one standard drink' reference point. ## Worked example: a 750 mL bottle of 13.5% wine A full 750 mL wine bottle at 13.5% ABV contains about 79.9 grams of pure alcohol — roughly 5.7 US standard drinks, or about 10.1 UK units, for the whole bottle. That's meaningfully more than five glasses at the 5 fl oz reference pour, since a full bottle holds five 5 fl oz glasses at that strength. ## What this calculator is and isn't for This is a unit-conversion tool for understanding drink labels, not a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) estimator, and it doesn't account for individual factors like body weight, sex, food intake, or metabolism that affect how alcohol actually impacts someone. It's meant to help you read a can, bottle, or pour more accurately — not to gamify or encourage higher totals. Both NIAAA and NHS publish low-risk drinking guidelines separate from the unit definitions themselves; this calculator only converts, it doesn't evaluate your total against those guidelines. ## Related calculators For an estimate of blood alcohol concentration from multiple drinks over time, see the [BAC Calculator](/calculators/bac-calculator). For the calories alcohol adds to your daily intake, see the [Calorie Calculator](/calculators/calorie-calculator). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a standard drink? In the US, the NIAAA defines one standard drink as about 14 grams (0.6 fl oz) of pure alcohol — roughly 12 fl oz of 5% beer, 5 fl oz of 12% wine, or 1.5 fl oz of 40% spirits. ### What is a UK unit and how does it differ from a US standard drink? A UK unit (NHS definition) is 10 mL (about 8 grams) of pure alcohol — smaller than the US standard drink's 14 grams, so the same beverage converts to a higher unit count in the UK system than in US standard drinks. ### How is pure alcohol content calculated from a label? Pure alcohol (grams) = Volume (mL) × (ABV ÷ 100) × 0.789 (ethanol's density in g/mL). This calculator applies that formula automatically from your entered volume and ABV. ### Does a stronger craft beer count as more than one drink? Often yes. A 16 oz pint of 7% beer contains meaningfully more pure alcohol than the 12 oz/5% reference serving — this calculator will show it as more than 1.0 standard drinks accordingly. ### Is this calculator a BAC estimator? No. It only converts a drink's volume and ABV into standard drinks or units. For an estimated blood alcohol concentration, use a dedicated BAC calculator, which also factors in body weight, sex, and time. ### Why does a full wine bottle show more than 5 standard drinks? A standard 750 mL bottle at typical wine strength (12-14% ABV) holds about five 5 fl oz reference pours, and each pour is close to one standard drink — so the whole bottle totals roughly 5-6 standard drinks, matching what this calculator shows. ### Does this calculator tell me if my drinking is within guidelines? No, it only converts volume and ABV into standard drinks or units. NIAAA and NHS both publish separate low-risk drinking guidelines you can compare your total against, but this tool doesn't score or evaluate that for you. ## Related concepts - **NIAAA standard drink** — The US reference unit: about 14 grams (0.6 fl oz) of pure alcohol, regardless of beverage type. - **UK unit (NHS)** — The UK reference unit: 10 mL (about 8 grams) of pure alcohol. - **ABV (Alcohol By Volume)** — The percentage of a beverage's total volume that is pure ethanol, printed on most drink labels. ## Related guides - [BAC Estimation Guide: Formula, Limits, and Safety](https://dothecalculation.com/blog/health/bac-estimation-safety-guide) — Learn how BAC estimates work, what the DTC calculator assumes, why results vary, and why no estimate can tell you when it is safe to drive. - [How to Use Do The Calculation Calculators: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide](https://dothecalculation.com/blog/site-guides/how-to-use-calculators) — Learn the fastest reliable workflow for using Do The Calculation calculators, reading results, checking formulas, and using save, print, share, and export actions correctly. ## Related calculators - [Unit Converter](https://dothecalculation.com/calculators/unit-converter) — Convert length, weight, temperature, volume, and dozens of other measurement units instantly with this free online converter tool. - [Average Blood Sugar (A1C) Calculator](https://dothecalculation.com/calculators/a1c-average-blood-sugar-calculator) — Convert an A1C percentage into estimated average glucose (eAG) in mg/dL and mmol/L using the ADA formula. - [BAC Calculator](https://dothecalculation.com/calculators/bac-calculator) — Estimate your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based on drinks consumed, body weight, gender, and time elapsed since drinking. - [Steps to Miles & Calories Calculator](https://dothecalculation.com/calculators/steps-to-miles-calories-calculator) — Convert your daily step count into miles, kilometers and estimated calories burned using your height, weight and walking or jogging pace. - [Bench Press Standards Calculator](https://dothecalculation.com/calculators/bench-press-standards-calculator) — See which strength tier your bench press falls into, from Beginner to Elite, using bodyweight-ratio benchmarks. - [Squat & Deadlift Standards Calculator](https://dothecalculation.com/calculators/squat-deadlift-standards-calculator) — See which strength tier your squat or deadlift falls into, from Beginner to Elite, using bodyweight-ratio benchmarks. --- _This calculator applies published NIAAA and NHS standard-drink definitions for unit conversion only. It does not estimate BAC or evaluate drinking guidelines — consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance._ --- _Source: [Do The Calculation](https://dothecalculation.com/calculators/alcohol-unit-calculator). Quote freely with attribution and a link to this page._