Standard Drinks Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a standard drink in the US?

A US standard drink contains 14 grams of pure ethanol. This is equivalent to 12 fl oz of regular beer (5% ABV), 5 fl oz of wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 fl oz of 80-proof distilled spirits (40% ABV).

How many standard drinks are in a bottle of wine?

A standard 750 ml bottle of wine at 12% ABV contains about 5 standard drinks. At 13.5% ABV (a common higher alcohol wine), it contains about 5.7 standard drinks. Splitting a bottle between two people is 2.5-2.85 drinks each, not 2.5 glasses.

Does alcohol content vary in craft beer?

Yes, significantly. Regular lagers and ales are 4-6% ABV (1-1.5 standard drinks per 12 oz). Many craft IPAs are 7-10% ABV (1.75-2.5 drinks per 12 oz). Imperial stouts and double IPAs often reach 11-14% ABV (2.75-3.5 drinks per 12 oz). Always check the ABV on the label.

How long does it take to process one standard drink?

About one hour for most adults on average. BAC declines at approximately 0.015% per hour. A person who has consumed 4 standard drinks over 2 hours has roughly 2 unmetabolised drinks remaining and a BAC of about 0.06-0.08% depending on body weight and sex. This is general information only - do not drive if you have been drinking.

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This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results are based on assumptions and may not reflect actual outcomes. Consult qualified professionals in relevant fields before making important decisions based on these results.

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How This Calculator Works

Enter the volume of the beverage (in ml or fl oz) and the ABV (alcohol by volume percentage). The calculator multiplies volume by ABV to get the ethanol volume, then converts to grams using ethanol's density of 0.789 g/ml. Dividing by 14 gives the number of US standard drinks. One US standard drink = 14 g of pure ethanol = 12 oz of regular beer at 5% ABV = 5 oz of wine at 12% ABV = 1.5 oz of 80-proof spirits at 40% ABV. Add multiple beverages to see a running total.

Standard Drink Definitions Around the World

The concept of a standard drink exists in most countries but the amount of ethanol varies significantly, which can make international guidelines confusing. US standard drink: 14 g ethanol. UK unit: 8 g ethanol. Australian standard drink: 10 g ethanol. Canada: 13.6 g ethanol. A UK guideline of 14 units per week is not comparable to a US guideline of 14 drinks per week - the UK limit is actually about 112 g of ethanol compared to 196 g for the US equivalent. Always check which definition your health guidelines are using.

Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines

The 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines define low-risk drinking as up to 2 standard drinks per day for men and 1 per day for women. These are upper limits, not targets - consuming less is always better. Binge drinking is defined as reaching a BAC of 0.08% or higher, which typically occurs at 4+ drinks for women and 5+ drinks for men within about 2 hours. Heavy use is defined as more than 4 drinks per day or 14 per week for men, and more than 3 per day or 7 per week for women. These are definitions, not safe levels - any alcohol carries some health risk.

How Alcohol Is Metabolised

The liver metabolises alcohol at a rate of about 0.015% BAC per hour, or roughly 1 standard drink per hour for most adults. This rate is largely fixed and cannot be speeded up by coffee, cold showers, food, or exercise - these only make you feel more alert, not actually less impaired. Factors that affect BAC for the same amount of alcohol include body weight, body fat percentage (alcohol does not distribute in fat), sex (women have less alcohol dehydrogenase and less body water per kg), food in the stomach, and individual genetic variation in enzyme activity.

Reading Drink Labels Accurately

Many people underestimate standard drink counts because of label confusion. A 12 oz can of regular beer (5% ABV) = 1 standard drink. But a 22 oz craft beer at 8% ABV = 2.9 standard drinks. A 750 ml bottle of wine at 13.5% ABV = 5.1 standard drinks. A standard-pour restaurant glass (5 oz) of wine = 1 drink, but many restaurants pour 6-8 oz. A shot of 80-proof spirits is 1 drink, but a generous pour or a cocktail with multiple spirits can be 2-3 drinks. Using this calculator with the actual ABV on the label gives you an accurate count for anything you drink.

Standard Drinks Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

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