Alcohol Units & Standard Drinks Calculator
Volume and strength in, grams of alcohol out — as US standard drinks and UK units, next to what the US Dietary Guidelines and the NHS say.
US standard drinks
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Common questions
What is a standard drink?
In the US, any drink with about 14 g (0.6 fl oz) of pure alcohol: 12 fl oz of 5% beer, 5 fl oz of 12% wine, or 1.5 fl oz of 40% spirits (NIAAA).
What is a UK unit?
10 ml or 8 g of pure alcohol. Units = ABV × ml ÷ 1,000; a pint of 5.2% lager is about 3 units (NHS).
What do the US Dietary Guidelines say about alcohol?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 say: “Consume less alcohol for better overall health.” They no longer give a daily number; the 2020–2025 edition limited intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 or less for women. The NHS advises no more than 14 units a week, spread over 3 or more days.
Who should not drink at all?
The 2025–2030 Guidelines: “People who should completely avoid alcohol include pregnant women, people who are recovering from alcohol use disorder or are unable to control the amount they drink, and people taking medications or with medical conditions that can interact with alcohol.”
Why do two 12-ounce beers differ?
Alcohol content depends on strength as well as size: a 12 oz craft beer at 10% is two standard drinks.
How it's computed
Pure alcohol (ml) = volume × ABV ÷ 100; grams = ml × 0.789 (ethanol density, which is how 0.6 fl oz equals 14 g). US standard drinks = grams ÷ 14. UK units = ABV × ml ÷ 1,000. 1 US fl oz = 29.57 ml.
Sources
- USDA & HHS. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 — "Limit Alcoholic Beverages" (p. 4). cdn.realfood.gov
- NIAAA — What is a standard drink? (14 g / 0.6 fl oz of pure alcohol). www.niaaa.nih.gov
- NHS — Alcohol units (1 unit = 10 ml / 8 g; ABV × ml ÷ 1,000; 14 units a week). www.nhs.uk
- CDC — About moderate alcohol use (page of Jan 14, 2025: 2 drinks or less a day for men, 1 for women, from the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines). www.cdc.gov