Free Health Tool

Alcohol Unit Calculator

Calculate how many alcohol units are in your drinks and check against weekly safe limits. Based on UK NHS & WHO guidelines.

Choose a drink type
ml
%
Number of drinks:
1
—
units today
—
Units/week
—
Calories today
14
Weekly limit
Weekly units used0%
07 (low risk)14 (limit)21+

What is an Alcohol Unit?

One UK alcohol unit equals 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. The formula is: Volume (ml) × ABV% ÷ 1000 = units. For example, a 330ml can of 5% beer contains 1.65 units.

The UK NHS recommends drinking no more than 14 units per week for both men and women, spread over at least 3 days, with several alcohol-free days each week. This is equivalent to about 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of wine.

How Alcohol Affects Your Health

Regular alcohol consumption above recommended limits is associated with increased risk of liver disease, several cancers (mouth, throat, breast, bowel), heart disease, stroke, and mental health problems.

Alcohol also adds significant calories (7 kcal per gram) without nutritional value, contributing to weight gain. Reducing alcohol intake is one of the most impactful changes you can make for your overall health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a safe level of alcohol consumption? ▼
The NHS and WHO state that no level of alcohol consumption is completely without risk. However, the risk is very low at levels below 14 units per week. Above this threshold, health risks increase progressively. The safest approach from a health standpoint is not to drink at all.
How long does alcohol stay in your system? ▼
The body processes approximately 1 unit of alcohol per hour. Factors affecting this include body weight, sex, age, food consumed, and liver health. You cannot speed up this process with coffee, water, or exercise. A blood alcohol level of zero after heavy drinking may take 12–24 hours.
Do alcohol limits differ for men and women? ▼
The UK now uses the same 14-unit guideline for both men and women. Previously, men had a higher limit, but updated guidelines recognise that women metabolise alcohol differently and face similar health risks at equivalent consumption levels. Women generally have less body water, so the same amount of alcohol produces a higher blood alcohol concentration.
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. Alcohol unit guidelines are based on UK NHS and WHO recommendations. If you are concerned about your alcohol consumption, please speak to a healthcare professional or contact a support service such as Drinkaware or Alcoholics Anonymous.