What is one unit of alcohol?
So, how can someone decide if someone is drinking too much too often? Firstly, you need to work out how many units they usually drink.
Different types of drinks contain different strengths of alcohol, so some will have more units than others.
You could calculate the amount of alcohol in any drink, if you know the quantity of liquid and the percentage of alcohol it contains.
We know you are not likely to remember a formula when you are having a drink, so we have given you a guide to the number of units contained in some popular drinks – see the table below.
If you can’t find your favourite drink, here is the calculation formula to work it out for yourself:
The amount of units in a drink is calculated from the formula,
A guide to the number of units in some popular drinks:
Pint or can of normal - strength lager (Harp, Carling, Boddingtons etc.)
2 units
Pint or can of strong lager (Stella, Red Stripe, Corona, Kronenbourg etc.)
3 units
Bottle of lager (Budweiser, etc.)
2 units
1 litre bottle of normal - strength cider (Strongbow, Woodpecker etc.)
4.5 units
1 500ml can of super - strength lager
4.5 units
1 litre bottle of strong cider (White Lightning etc.)
8 units
1 bottle of alcopop ( Bacardi Breezer, WKD, Smirnoff Ice etc)
2 units
75cl bottle of sherry (QC, Harveys Bristol Cream)
26 units
75cl bottle of port
15 units
75cl bottle of wine (wine comes in different strengths, so check the label)
7-9 units
Large glass of wine in a pub
3 units
Standard-sized bottle of spirits (vodka, gin, brandy, whisky etc.)
26–28 units
1 litre bottle of spirits (vodka, gin, brandy, whisky etc.)
40 units
A single pub measure of spirits (vodka, gin, brandy, whisky etc.)
1 units
How many units should I be drinking?
To help decide if someone is drinking too much, work out how many units they drink in an average week and compare this amount with the safe limits set out below.
For men, the recommended safe limits for drinking are no more than 3–4 units a day. That means no more than 21 units per week.
For women, the recommended safe limits for drinking are no more than 2–3 units a day. That means no more than 14 units per week.
Anyone who drinks should have at least two alcohol-free days every week.
The Government's advice says pregnant women should avoid drinking alcohol. If you choose to drink, to minimise risk to the baby, you should not drink more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week and you should not get drunk.
There are times when you will be at risk after drinking alcohol, so always avoid drinking alcohol if planning to drive, exercise or operate machinery.
It takes around 12 hours for alcohol to leave your bloodstream after drinking four pints of continental lager or ale. This means that you will still be over the alcohol limit to drive, even if you have had a night's sleep.
How many units put you at risk?
Low Risk and SENSIBLE
Up to 3 standard drinks a day or 21 units a week
Up to 2 standard drinks a day or 14 units a week
Moderate Risk and HAZARDOUS
More than 3 standard drinks a day or up to 35 units a week
More than 2 standard drinks a day or up to 28 units a week
High Risk and DANGEROUS
More than 8 standard drinks a day or over 42 units a week
More than 6 standard drinks a day or over 40 units a week