One unit is 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol (ethanol) . This equals one 25ml single measure of whisky, a third of a pint of beer or half a standard glass of red wine. This is approximately the amount of ethanol an average healthy adult can break down in an hour.
It is often misleading the amount of units supplied by a small glass of wine, half a pint of beer, or a single measure of spirits. Such statements are misleading because they do not reflect the large differences in strengths and measures of wines, beers and spirits. So in the list below we have some drinks and how many units each contain.
The number of units contained in a typical drink is publicised and marked on bottles so always check.
- One pint of normal strength lager (3 - 3.5%) is equivalent to 2 units
- One 275ml bottle of alcopop (5.5%) is 1.5 units
- A 175ml glass of 12% wine is 2 units
- A single measure of spirits (40%) is 1 unit
The higher the percentage of alcohol, the stronger the drink and the more units.
- 3.5% in beer/lager/cider
- 5% in strong beer/lager/cider
- 8% in extra strong beers/lagers
- 13% in wine
- 20% in sherry
- 38% in vodka
- 40% in whiskey
- 50% - 80% Absinthe
The current recommended safe drinking levels for an adult are listed below. However this will depend on your age, weight, tolerance level. A person under 18 should not be drinking to this level.
- Men 3-4 units per day,
- Women 2-3 units per day
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