Unit of alcohol
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In some countries a system of units of alcohol is employed for an approximate measure of the amount of alcohol in different drinks.
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[edit] Formula
A unit of alcohol is equivalent to 10 millilitres (or approximately 8 grams) of pure ethanol, the active chemical ingredient in alcoholic beverages.
The number of units of alcohol in a drink can be determined by multiplying the volume of the drink (in millilitres) by its percentage ABV, and dividing by 1000.
Thus a pint (568ml) of beer at 4% ABV contains
Also, in the metric system of measuring, there is 1 unit in 1 litre of a 1% ABV drink.
[edit] Quantities
As a rough guide:
- A very small glass of wine, a small glass of sherry, a single measure of spirits and a half pint of beer each contain about one unit, or 8 g (0.25 oz) of alcohol.
- A smallish 125ml glass of red or white wine or half a pint of cider contains about one and a half units.
- Strong pale lager may contain as much as two units per half pint.
- A larger 175ml glass of wine contains two to two and a half units.
- A 750ml standard bottle of 12% wine contains around 9 units. Many wines are actually around 14.5%, which is nearly 11 units per bottle.
- A 500ml can/bottle of standard lager generally contains around 2.5 units.
[edit] Limits
Since 1995 the UK government has advised that regular consumption of between three and four units a day for men and between two and three units a day for women would not pose significant health risks, but that consistently drinking four or more units a day (men) or three or more units a day (women) is not advisable. Previously (from 1992 till 1995) the advice was that men should drink no more than 21 units per week, and women no more than 14. The difference between genders is given due to the (typically) lower weight and water-to-body-mass-ratio of women.
