One UK unit = 10 ml of pure alcohol. Work out the units in any drink, track a rolling 7-day total against the UK 14-unit guideline, and compare with US standard drinks.
100% client-side — your log never leaves this browser.
Educational tool only — not a recommendation to drink.
This calculator explains how UK alcohol units are counted; it is not medical advice and does not judge anyone's choices. If you are worried about drinking, the FAQ below points to where help is available.
units = volume (ml) × ABV (%) ÷ 1000
1 · Units in a single drink
Use the numbers on the label — ABV varies by brand. 1 fl oz ≈ 29.5735 ml; 1 US pint = 473 ml, UK pint = 568 ml.
UK drink presets (tap to fill — then adjust ABV to your label):
Please enter a positive volume and an ABV between 0 and 100%.
Your drink
2.3UK units
Pure alcohol
22.7 ml
Alcohol by weight
17.9 g
Calories from alcohol only
125 kcal
≈ US standard drinks (14 g)
1.3
How it was computed
Calorie figure is a floor, not the total: sugars, carbs and mixers add more. The US comparison is informational — this tool's core measure is UK units.
2 · Weekly tracker (last 7 days)
Log each drink as you have it. The tracker sums a rolling 7-day window and compares it with the UK Chief Medical Officers' guideline: no more than 14 units per week, spread over three or more days.
To log a drink, pick a preset or enter a name with a positive volume and an ABV between 0 and 100%.
Last 7 days
0.0units
Within the 14-unit guideline
Progress toward the 14-unit weekly guideline
0 of 14 units · 0 drinks · 0 days
Your log is stored only in this browser (localStorage). Nothing is uploaded. Removing a drink or clearing the log deletes it permanently.
3 · UK units vs US standard drinks
Same drinks, two systems. The UK unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol; the US standard drink is 14 g (≈ 17.7 ml). So 1 US standard drink ≈ 1.75 UK units. Values below are computed live by the engine:
Drink
UK units
≈ US standard drinks
Alcohol (g)
Know the boundary — sibling tools
This page is the UK-units home: UK presets, the 14-unit/week guideline and UK-first language. Related but different tools:
Standard Drink Calculator — the US system: 14 g per standard drink, US presets and guidance. Cross-reference only; this tool does not compute US drinks as its core function.
Alcohol Dilution Calculator — C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ for mixing and proofing spirits down; a mixing math tool, not a unit counter.
A generic unit converter (length, weight, temperature…) converts between unit systems; it does not know what a UK alcohol unit is — that is this tool's job.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UK alcohol unit?
In the UK, one unit of alcohol equals 10 millilitres of pure alcohol. It is a measure of alcohol quantity — not strength and not intoxication. The standard formula is: units = volume (ml) × ABV (%) ÷ 1000. A pint of 4% beer (568 ml) is 2.3 units.
How do I calculate the number of units in my drink?
Multiply the drink volume in millilitres by the ABV percentage, then divide by 1000. Example: a 175 ml glass of 12.5% wine = 175 × 12.5 ÷ 1000 = 2.19, rounded to 2.2 units. The calculator above does this for any volume and strength, with one-tap UK presets.
How many units are in a pint?
A UK pint (568 ml) of 4% beer or lager = 568 × 4 ÷ 1000 = 2.3 units. Stronger beer scales proportionally: 568 ml at 5% = 2.8 units, and a 4.5% pint of cider = 2.6 units. Always use the ABV printed on the label — it varies by brand.
What is the UK guideline for weekly alcohol units?
The UK Chief Medical Officers' guideline is to not regularly drink more than 14 units per week — for men and women — and to spread drinking over three or more days, with several drink-free days. The weekly tracker above measures your last 7 days against this 14-unit figure.
What is the difference between UK units and US standard drinks?
A UK unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol (~8 g); a US standard drink is 14 g of pure alcohol (NIAAA / US Dietary Guidelines definition). So 1 UK unit ≈ 0.57 US standard drinks, and 1 US standard drink ≈ 1.75 UK units. This tool computes UK units as its core function; the US figure is shown only for comparison.
How many units are in a bottle of wine?
It depends on the bottle size and ABV: a 750 ml bottle at 12.5% = 750 × 12.5 ÷ 1000 = 9.4 units. At 14% the same bottle is 10.5 units. A bottle is roughly 3 large (250 ml) pub glasses.
Do alcohol units tell me if I am drunk or over the drink-drive limit?
No. Units measure how much alcohol is in the drink, not your blood alcohol level. Blood alcohol depends on body weight, sex, drinking speed, food, metabolism and time. Never use units to decide whether you are safe to drive — if you are driving, the only safe amount of alcohol is none.
How many calories are in an alcohol unit?
Alcohol provides about 7 kilocalories per gram. One UK unit (~8 g of pure alcohol) contributes roughly 55–56 kcal from the alcohol alone. The true calorie count of a drink is usually higher because beer, wine and mixers add sugars and carbohydrates — this tool reports the alcohol-only calories as a baseline.
Is any level of drinking safe in pregnancy?
UK guidance (Chief Medical Officers, NICE) is that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, as there is no known safe level for the baby. If you are concerned about alcohol in pregnancy, speak to your midwife, GP or pharmacist.
I am worried about my drinking — where can I get help?
This calculator cannot assess dependence or risk for you. If drinking is affecting your health, work or relationships, consider talking to your GP, doctor or pharmacist, or contacting a national alcohol support service in your country. Help exists and is confidential — reaching out is a practical step, not a verdict.
How is this different from the standard-drink calculator?
This tool is built around the UK unit (10 ml pure alcohol) — its presets, weekly tracker and 14-unit guideline are all UK-system. The separate standard-drink calculator is built around the US standard drink (14 g pure alcohol) with US presets and guidance. They answer the same question in different measurement systems; this page is the UK-units home.
Are alcohol units the same as calories or sugar units?
No. An alcohol unit is a volume-of-pure-alcohol measure (10 ml). Calorie units and nutrition "units" are energy measures. One UK alcohol unit does contain roughly 55–56 kcal from the alcohol itself, but a drink's total calories are a separate figure that includes sugars and mixers.
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