Alcohol units calculator — standard drinks and grams of alcohol
Add the drinks you had. We calculate grams of pure alcohol, standard drinks and calories, and compare the result with low-risk drinking limits.
Standard drink
In Poland and in WHO materials a standard drink is 10 g of pure alcohol: about 250 ml of 5% beer, 100 ml of 12% wine or 30 ml of 40% spirits. A half-litre beer is two standard drinks.
Other countries count differently: a UK unit is 8 g of alcohol (10 ml) and a US standard drink is 14 g.
Risk limits
Polish public health materials (PARPA, now the National Centre for Counteracting Addictions) give these low-risk limits:
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| Per day | up to 20 g (2 drinks) | up to 40 g (4 drinks) |
| Per week | up to 140 g | up to 280 g |
| On one occasion | up to 40 g | up to 60 g |
Plus at least two alcohol-free days a week. Drinking above these limits is risky, and above 40 g a day or 210 g a week for women and 60 g a day or 350 g a week for men it is harmful.
According to WHO, no level of alcohol is safe for health — cancer risk rises even at low doses. Low risk does not mean no risk.
How we calculate
grams of alcohol = volume [ml] × strength [%] ÷ 100 × 0.789
0.789 g/ml is the density of ethanol. Standard drinks = grams ÷ 10, UK units = grams ÷ 8, US drinks = grams ÷ 14. Calories: 7 kcal per gram of alcohol (not counting sugar in the drink).
Limitations
- We do not estimate blood alcohol: it depends on many factors and cannot tell you whether it is safe to drive. Do not drive after drinking.
- Low-risk limits do not apply in pregnancy or breastfeeding, under 18, with medicines that interact with alcohol, or in alcohol dependence; abstinence is advised in these situations.
- The strength on the label may vary, especially for craft beers and cocktails.
Sources
- National Centre for Counteracting Addictions (Poland). Self-assessment — standard drink (10 g). kcpu.gov.pl
- PARPA campaign “Check whether your drinking is safe” — low-risk drinking limits (Polish). www.wyhamujwpore.pl
- WHO Regional Office for Europe. No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. Lancet Public Health 2023;8:e6. doi.org
- Babor TF i wsp. AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Guidelines for use in primary care. 2nd ed. WHO; 2001. www.who.int
Frequently asked questions
How many standard drinks are in a beer?
How does a standard drink differ from a UK unit?
Is there a safe amount of alcohol?
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This calculator is for education and does not replace a doctor’s assessment. Always interpret the result together with the history and examination.