Why keep track of your alcohol units?
It’s not always easy to keep an eye on how much you drink. Sometimes, it can add up to more than you expect, so being aware of your alcohol intake can help you live a healthier lifestyle. Our alcohol units calculator can help you keep track of how much you’re drinking.
Wine, beer, spirits – alcoholic drinks can all be particularly high in calories. With our calculator, you can see how much you’re drinking, and how many calories you’re consuming, giving you a better picture of your health.
How does it work?
Our alcohol units calculator converts your drinks into measurable units that are easier to track.
You put in how many drinks you have a week, and it will tell you how many units and calories that works out to, and whether that’s over or under the recommended amount.
Alcohol units calculator
By measuring the quantity and strength of the alcohol you drink we can calculate how many units you drink a week.
To get started, input what (and how much) you drink in an average week in the adjacent box and click ‘calculate’ to get a snapshot of your alcohol consumption.
Your results
The results are in! Your weekly alcoholic beverage consumption (in units) will appear on the adjacent page.
Regardless of your results, it’s recommended that you don’t drink alcohol, and if you do it's advised by the NHS not to drink over 14 units per week due to its negative health effects. Many of us enjoy a tipple, but it’s always advised that you remain aware of how much you’ve drank and the dangers of alcohol.
You've consumed
FAQs
How many units of alcohol should I drink a week?
It's recommended you don't drink any alcohol, as it's been found to have negative effects on health. However, if you do drink the NHS advises not to drink more than the 14 units a week. If you regularly drink up to or over 14 units then it's recommended you cut down your drinking.
How many units can you drink and drive after?
The legal limit for drink driving is measured in milligrams rather than units. There are strict alcohol limits for drivers, but it’s impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals because it’s different for each person. However, the effects of alcohol can be strong even in small quantities, so it's advisable not to drink and drive.
What is a unit of alcohol?
A unit of alcohol is an easy way of understanding the amount of pure alcohol in a drink. One unit is 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol. The number of units in a drink is based on the size of the drink, as well as its alcohol strength.
For example, a pint of average strength (4%) beer has about two units in it, while a single measure (25ml) of your average spirits is one unit.
Units can be used to count and keep track of how much alcohol you’re consuming.
How are these results calculated?
Units are a way of representing a drink's alcohol content.
Alcohol content is usually measured by alcohol by volume (ABV), which is the percentage you see on the labels of cans and bottles. This measures the amount of pure alcohol within the total volume of liquid within a drink.
Units are an easier way to measure and track alcohol consumption. You can work out how many units there are in a drink with the following formula: Footnote [1]
Strength (ABV%) x volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = units
So, to work out the number of units in a pint (568ml) of ale (ABV 4%):
4 (%) x 568 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 2.27 units
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