A glass of Malbec with dinner or a pint of beer at the pub may both hit the same spot, but not all alcohol is equal, especially when it comes to units. It can all get a bit confusing – so we have put together this quick guide to help you better understand the alcohol content of your favourite tipples.
Alcohol units were first introduced in the UK in 1987 to help people keep track of their drinking. They are a simple way of sharing the quantity of pure alcohol in our drinks to consumers.
One unit contains 8g or 10ml of pure alcohol, which takes around 1 hour for the average adult can process each hour. In theory, little to no alcohol should remain in the blood of an adult who has consumed one unit after an hour.
The size of a drink is also a factor when determining how many alcohol units it has, e.g. a pint of strong lager contains around 3 units of alcohol, but a pint of low-strength lager has roughly 2 units.
Although most people believe that alcohol is fine to consume in moderation, it’s useful to know what is deemed safe. To minimise health risks from alcohol (if you drink majority of the weeks) then the following is recommended:
14 units of alcohol is the equivalent of 10 small glasses of low-strength wine or 6 average-strength pints of beer.
Alcohol is so ingrained into our society that it can be hard to how much is too much alcohol. The unit system gives you a clear-cut answer and can help you determine if you need to re-evaluate your drinking habits.
Read more about this here: Alcohol – how much is too much? & Signs you might be drinking too much alcohol.Mmm wine, everyone’s got a favourite – rosé, red, white… there’s a fruity glass for every occasion. And while some people fiercely advocate the health benefits of a glass of red every night, would that fit into the recommended number of alcohol units per week? Let’s find out how many units are in a glass of wine.
Small glass of white / red / rosé wine (125ml, ABV 12%): 1.5 units
Medium glass of white / red / rosé wine (175ml, ABV 12%): 2.1 units
Large glass of white / red / rosé wine (250ml, ABV 12%): 3 units
A 750ml bottle of white / red / rosé wine (ABV 12%) contains 9 units – not far off the recommended weekly alcohol units – so be careful.
You’ve probably already seen it on labels of your favourite alcohol, but what does ABV mean? Alcohol By Volume is a measure of the amount of pure alcohol in the total volume of liquid in any alcoholic drink, e.g. a bottle of wine that says 13.5% ABV will have 13.5% pure alcohol, so a 750ml bottle would contain 101.25ml of pure alcohol.
If any alcoholic drink doesn’t have its alcohol unit listed, here’s how to work it out using ABV:
Strength (ABV) x volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = units
For example, this is how you would work out how many alcohol units in a bottle of wine (750ml) with a 13% ABV has:
13 (ABV) x 750 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 9.75 units
Whether it’s a quick pint in your local or a few fruity ciders on a sunny day, everyone’s got a favourite beer or cider. Do you know how many alcohol units they contain though? Let’s have a look at the most popular beers and ciders and how many units they contain.
Are you team cheeky G&T? Or do you prefer a fancy cocktail? A lot of our favourite drinks contain a spirit or two, but do you know just how much alcohol the likes of vodka, rum and gin contain? Here’s a low-down on the most popular spirits.
Most spirits contain around 40% ABV so a good rule is to count each shot as 1 unit – it’s better to overcompensate than undercompensate!
There’s no denying that some of these drinks taste amazing, so much so that they don’t even taste alcoholic. So, why not try an alcohol-free or low alcohol version to see if it hits the spot? These drinks are a great alternative for pregnant ladies and designated drivers, as well as those just wanting to cut down.
If you think you’re drinking too much, here’s 3 ways to reduce your alcohol intake.There’s nothing quite like a good old G&T! All those tasty, delicate botanicals – it just screams summer nights on the patio. You’ll be pleased to know you can enjoy the same great tastes with none of the alcohol. Here’s a few of our favourites:
If you always gravitate to the cocktail menu, we have a sophisticated alternative – bye bye Shirley Temples! Kolibri is designed for those of you who demand high-quality drinks with delicious adult flavours and considered calorie counts – because having a simple soft drink isn’t quite the same. Try their scrumptious flavours:
Just remember that if you’re going to drink, please do so responsibly. Alcohol unit guidelines can help you make healthy choices and alcohol-free and low alcohol options can be a great alternative to the boozy drinks you love every so often. If you want some more inspiration check out Festive alcohol-free cocktail recipes and Healthy alternatives to your usual alcoholic tipple. And please reach out to professionals if you think your alcohol consumption is too high or getting out of hand.Last updated: 7 July 2020
Sourceshttps://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/calculating-alcohol-units/
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/interactive-tools/unit-calculator https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/understand-your-drinking/unit-calculator https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcoholic-drinks-units/how-much-is-too-much/