Standard Drink - Wikipedia

Measure of the pure ethanol in an alcoholic beverage
United States standard drinks of beer, malt liquor, wine, and spirits compared. Each contains about 14 grams or 17.7 ml of ethanol.

A standard drink or (in the UK) unit of alcohol is a measure of alcohol consumption representing a fixed amount of pure alcohol. The notion is used in relation to recommendations about alcohol consumption and its relative risks to health. It helps to inform alcohol users.[1]

A hypothetical alcoholic beverage sized to one standard drink varies in volume depending on the alcohol concentration of the beverage (for example, a standard drink of spirits takes up much less space than a standard drink of beer), but it always contains the same amount of alcohol and therefore produces the same amount of intoxication.[1] Many government health guidelines specify low to high risk amounts in units of grams of pure alcohol per day, week, or single occasion. These government guidelines often illustrate these amounts as standard drinks of various beverages, with their serving sizes indicated. Although used for the same purpose, the definition of a standard drink varies very widely from country to country.

Labeling beverages with the equivalent number of standard drinks is common in some countries.

Definitions in various countries

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The definition of what constitutes a standard drink varies very widely between countries,[2] with what each country defines as the amount of pure alcohol in a standard drink ranging from 8 to 20 grams.

The sample questionnaire form for the World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) uses 10 g (0.35 oz),[3] and this definition has been adopted by more countries than any other amount.[4] Some countries choose to base the definition on mass of alcohol (in grams) while others base the unit on the volume (in ml or other volume units).[1] For comparison, both measurements are shown here, as well as the number of standard drinks contained in 500 millilitres (16.9 US fluid ounces) of 5% ABV beer (a typical large size of beer in Europe, slightly larger than a US pint of 473 mL). The terminology for the unit also varies, as shown in the Notes column.

Amount of pure alcohol (in grams or millilitres) contained in a standard drink, as defined in different countries.
Country Mass(g) Volume(mL) Ratio toWHO AUDIT'sexample(10 g[3]) Is 10 g Notes
Albania[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Argentina[5] 14 17.7 1.4 No
Australia[4][6] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Austria[4][5] 20 25.3 2 No
Benin[5] 14 17.7 1.4 No
Bosnia and Herzegovina[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Canada[4][7][8] 13.6 or13.45[9] or13.5[10] 17.2 or 17[9] 1.36 or 1.35 No This specific unit is computed based on the oz definition as:
  • 12 imp fl oz (341 ml) bottle of 5% alcohol beer, cider or cooler
  • 1.5 imp fl oz (43 ml) shot of 40% hard liquor (vodka, rum, whisky, gin etc.)
  • 5 imp fl oz (142 ml) glass of 12% wine.[11]
Costa Rica[5] 8 10 0.8 No
Croatia[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Denmark[4][5] 12 15.2 1.2 No
Estonia[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Fiji[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Finland[12] 12 15.2 1.2 No
France[4] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Georgia[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Germany[4][13] 11 13.8 1.1 No Standardglas defined as containing 10–12 g (central value used here)
Guyana[5] 8 10 0.8 No
Hong Kong[14] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Hungary 17 21.5 1.7 No
Iceland[4][15] 8 10 0.8 No áfengiseining defined as 8 g but treated as equivalent to 10 mL
Ireland[4][16] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Italy[4] 12 15.2 1.2 No unità standard defined as 12 g
Japan[3][17] 19.75 25 1.98 No "unit (tan'i)".MHLW's conventional unit,based on 1 gō (unit) (approx. 180 mL) of sake.[18]
Japan[17] 10 12.7 1 Yes "drink (dorinku)". Introduced by 2010[19] to align with the WHO AUDIT,and to avoid the conventional "unit (tan'i)" (20 g) which gave a false impression of "minimum amount to drink".[18][20]Sometimes this amount (around 10 g) is also called "unit (tan'i)",[19][21] a term which traditionally meant 20 g.[18]
Latvia[5] 12 15.2 1.2 No
Luxembourg[5] 10–12 12.7–15.2 1-1.2 No
Malta[5] 8 10 0.8 No
Mexico[5] 10–13 12.7–16.5 1-1.3 No
Namibia[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Netherlands[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
New Zealand[4][22][23] 10 12.7 1 Yes
North Macedonia[5] 14.2 18 1.42 No
Norway 12.8 15 1.28 No
Philippines[5] 12 15.2 1.2 No
Poland[4] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Portugal[4] 11 13.8 1.1 No 10–12 g (central value used here)
Russia[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[5] 14 17.7 1.4 No
Seychelles[5] 8 10 0.8 No
Singapore[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Slovenia[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
South Korea[5] 8 10 0.8 No
Spain[4] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Sweden 12 15.2 1.2 No standardglas corresponds to 33 cl 5% beer, 13 cl wine, or a drink or shot based on 4 cl 40% liquor[24]
Switzerland[4] 12 15.2 1.2 No
Taiwan (ROC)[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Thailand[25] 10 12.7 1 Yes
Ukraine[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes
United Kingdom[4][26][27] 8 10 0.8 No unit of alcohol[a] defined as 10 mL but treated as equivalent to 8 g.[29]
United States[30][4][31] 14 17.7 1.4 No standard drink defined as .6 US fl oz (18 ml) pure ethanol, approximately 14 g
Uruguay[5] 10 12.7 1 Yes

Calculation of pure alcohol by mass

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It is possible to calculate the pure alcohol mass in a serving from the concentration, density of alcohol, and volume: volume × alcohol by volume × density of alcohol = Pure alcohol mass {\displaystyle {\text{volume}}\times {\text{alcohol by volume}}\times {\text{density of alcohol}}={\text{Pure alcohol mass}}}

For example, a 355 ml (12.0 US fl oz) glass of beer with an ABV of 5.5% contains 19.525 ml of pure alcohol, which has a density of 0.78945 g/mL (at 20 °C),[32] and therefore a mass of 15.41 grams (0.544 oz). 355 m L × 0.055 × 0.78945 g / m L ≈ 15.41 g {\displaystyle 355\,\mathrm {mL} \times 0.055\times 0.78945\,\mathrm {g} /\mathrm {mL} \approx 15.41\,\mathrm {g} } or 0.355 L × 0.055 × 789.45 g / L ≈ 15.41 g {\displaystyle 0.355\,\mathrm {L} \times 0.055\times 789.45\,\mathrm {g} /\mathrm {L} \approx 15.41\,\mathrm {g} }

When the drink size is in fluid ounces (which differ between the UK and the US), the following conversions can be used:

Country Volume of fl. oz. (mL) Mass of fl. oz. of alcohol (g)
UK 28.41 22.43
US 29.57 23.35

One should bear in mind that a pint in the UK is 20 imperial fluid ounces, whereas a pint in the US is 16 US fluid ounces, and that 1 imperial fl. oz. ≈ 0.96076 US fl. oz.: this means that 1 imperial pint ≈ 1.20095 US pints.

Calculation of units of alcohol by volume

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Calculating alcoholic content in countries that use units of alcohol is straightforward, as the volume multiplied by the Alcohol by volume (ABV) gives the alcohol content. In the UK, one unit of alcohol equals one percentage point per litre, of any alcoholic beverage.

volume (in litres) × alcohol by volume (ABV) = alcohol content (units of alcohol) {\displaystyle {\text{volume (in litres)}}\times {\text{alcohol by volume (ABV)}}={\text{alcohol content (units of alcohol)}}}

The standard UK units of alcohol in a drink can be determined by multiplying the volume of the drink (expressed in litres) by its percentage ABV. For example, a standard 750 millilitres (25 US fl oz) bottle of wine at 12% ABV contains:

0.75  L × 12 % = 9  units {\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}0.75{\mbox{ L}}\times 12\%&=9{\mbox{ units}}\end{aligned}}}

One UK standard measure of spirits (25ml, 0.025 L) at 40% ABV contains:

0.025  L × 40 % = 1  unit {\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}0.025{\mbox{ L}}\times 40\%&=1{\mbox{ unit}}\end{aligned}}}

One imperial pint (568ml, 0.568 L) of beer at 4% ABV contains:

0.568  L × 4 % = 2.27  units {\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}0.568{\mbox{ L}}\times 4\%&=2.27{\mbox{ units}}\end{aligned}}}

In the UK, both volume and ABV are usually given on bottles, drinks menus and so on, and so are easy to retrieve.

Reference standard drinks

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A standard drink is often different from a normal serving in the country in which it is served.[33] For example, in the United States, a standard drink is defined as 0.6 US fluid ounces (18 ml) of ethanol per serving, which is about 14 grams of alcohol.[30][34][32] This corresponds to a 12-US-fluid-ounce (350 ml) can of 5% beer, a 5-US-fluid-ounce (150 ml) glass of 12% ABV (alcohol by volume) wine, or a 1.5-US-fluid-ounce (44 ml) so-called "shot" of spirit,[30] assuming that beer is 5% ABV, wine is 12% ABV, and spirits is 40% ABV (80 proof). Most wine today is higher than 12% ABV (the average ABV in Napa Valley in 1971 was 12.5%[35]), hence will be more than a standard drink. Similarly, although 40% ABV is standard for spirits, the amount of spirit in a mixed drink varies widely.

Beers

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  • Half an imperial pint 280 ml of beer with 3.5% ABV contains almost exactly one UK unit; however, most beers are stronger. In pubs in the United Kingdom, beers generally range from 3.5 to 5.5% ABV, and continental lagers start at around 4% ABV. An imperial pint 568 ml of such lager (at 5.2% ABV) contains almost 3 units of alcohol[36] rather than the oft-quoted 2 units.
  • Stronger beer (6–12%) may contain 2 UK units or more per imperial half pint.
  • A half-litre (500 ml) of standard lager or ale (5%) contains 2.5 UK units.
  • One litre (1000 ml) of typical Oktoberfest beer (5.5–6%) contains 5.5–6 UK units of alcohol.
  • A beer bottle is typically between 333 and 355 ml (11.3 and 12.0 US fl oz), approximately 1.7 UK units at 5%.
  • 375 ml (12.7 US fl oz) can of light beer (2.7% alcohol) = 0.8 Australian standard drinks
  • 375 ml (12.7 US fl oz) can of mid-strength beer (3.5% alcohol) = 1 Australian standard drink
  • 375 ml (12.7 US fl oz) can of full strength beer (4.8% alcohol) = 1.4 Australian standard drinks
  • 12 US fl oz (350 ml) of 5% ABV beer = 1 US standard drink

Wines

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A large (250 ml) glass of 12% ABV red wine has about three UK units of alcohol. A medium (175 ml) glass has about two UK units.
  • A "medium" glass (175 ml (5.9 US fl oz) of 12% ABV wine contains around 2.1 units of alcohol. However, British pubs and restaurants often supply larger quantities (large glass ≈ 250 ml (8.5 US fl oz)), which contain 3 units. Red wines often have a higher alcohol content (on average 12.5%, sometimes up to 16%). Even though the sizes of wine glasses are defined in UK law, the terms large, medium, standard, etc. are not defined in law.
  • A 750 ml (25 US fl oz) bottle of 12% ABV wine contains 9 units; 16% ABV wine contains 12 units; a fortified wine such as port at 20% ABV contains 15 units.
  • 100 ml (3.4 US fl oz) glass of wine (13.5% alcohol) = 1 Australian standard drink
  • 150 ml (5.1 US fl oz) glass of wine (13.5% alcohol) = 1.5 Australian standard drinks
  • One 5 US fl oz (150 ml) glass of 12% ABV table wine is one US standard drink.

Fortified wines

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  • A small glass (50 ml (1.7 US fl oz)) of sherry, fortified wine, or cream liqueur (≈20% ABV) contains about one unit.

Spirits

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Most spirits sold in the United Kingdom have 35%-40% ABV. In England, a single pub measure (25 ml (0.85 US fl oz)) of a spirit contains one unit. However, a larger 35 ml (1.2 US fl oz) measure is increasingly used (and in particular is standard in Northern Ireland[37]), which contains 1.4 units of alcohol at 40% ABV. Sellers of spirits by the glass must state the capacity of their standard measure in ml.

In Australia, a 30 ml (1.0 US fl oz) shot of spirits (40% ABV) is 0.95 standard drinks.

In the US, one shot of 80 proof liquor is 1.5 US fl oz (44 ml), which is one US standard drink.

Mixed spirits and alcopops

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  • 440 ml (15 US fl oz) can of pre-mix spirits (approx. 5% alcohol) = 1.7 Australian standard drinks
  • 440 ml (15 US fl oz) can pre-mix spirits (approx. 7% alcohol) = 2.4 Australian standard drinks
  • According to Alcohol and You Northern Ireland resource website, "Most alcopops contain 1.1–1.5 units per bottle. For example, a normal 275 ml (9.3 US fl oz) bottle of WKD contains 1.1 units, whereas Bacardi Breezer and Smirnoff Ice both contain 1.5 units of alcohol."[38]
[edit] Main article: Alcohol consumption recommendations

From 1992 to 1995, the UK government advised that men should drink no more than 21 units per week, and women no more than 14.[39] (The difference between the sexes was due to the typically lower weight and water-to-body-mass ratio of women).[40] The Times claimed in October 2007 that these limits had been "plucked out of the air" and had no scientific basis.[41]

This was changed after a government study showed that many people were in effect "saving up" their units and using them at the end of the week,[42][43] a form of binge drinking. Since 1995 the advice was that regular consumption of 3–4 units a day for men, or 2–3 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.[44] These guidelines were updated in August 2016 by the Chief Medical Officers of each of the four regions of the UK.[45] The emphasis shifted from a level which does not pose risk towards levels which pose a low risk. This shift in emphasis was on the basis of an evaluation of evidence about the levels and types of health harm from alcohol.[46] In brief, the weekly guideline was no more than 14 units for both men and women, ideally spread evenly over three or more days, with alcohol free days included. On a single occasion, the emphasis was limiting drinks on a single occasion, and not drinking at all during pregnancy.[47] Subsequently, research has suggested that the level of consumption which minimises health loss is zero, i.e. to protect health, it is better not to drink alcohol.[48] However, a more recent review by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that while heavy alcohol use is clearly harmful, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower all-cause mortality compared to never consuming alcohol.[49]

Relation to blood alcohol content

[edit] Main article: Blood alcohol content

As a rough guide, it takes about one hour for the body to metabolise (break down) one UK unit of alcohol, 10 ml (8 grams). However, this will vary with body weight, sex, age, personal metabolic rate, recent food intake, the type and strength of the alcohol, and medications taken. Alcohol may be metabolised more slowly if liver function is impaired.[27] For other countries, it may be easiest to convert to UK units. For example, in the United States one standard drink contains 14 grams ≈ 1.75 units of alcohol, and so a US standard drink takes the body about an hour and three-quarters to process. Blood alcohol content can more accurately be estimated by using Widmark's formula.[50]

Labeling

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Example of Wine Bottle label in accordance with UK voluntary health labelling scheme

Australia introduced standard drink labelling in the 1990s,[51] and New Zealand followed with a labelling requirement starting in 2002.[52] The labels were criticized for being too small to read. A focus group study found that most student drinkers used the labels to choose stronger drinks and identify the cheapest method of getting drunk, rather than to drink safely.[51]

In the UK in March 2011, alcohol companies voluntarily pledged to the UK Department of Health to implement a health labelling scheme to provide more information about responsible drinking on alcohol labels and containers. The pledge stated:[53]

"We will ensure that over 80% of products on shelf (by December 2013) will have labels with clear unit content, NHS guidelines and a warning about drinking when pregnant."

At the end of 2014, 101 companies had committed to the pledge labelling scheme.[53]

There are five elements included within the overall labelling scheme, the first three being mandatory, and the last two optional:

  1. Unit alcohol content per container (mandatory), and per serving (optional). Typical servings deliver 1–3 units of alcohol.[54]
  2. Chief Medical Officer's daily guidelines for lower-risk consumption
  3. Pregnancy warning (in text or as a graphic)
  4. Mention of "drinkaware.co.uk" (optional)
  5. Responsibility statement (e.g., "please drink responsibly") (optional)
Further detailed specifications about the labelling scheme are available from the "Alcohol labelling tool kit".[55]

Drinks companies had pledged to display the three mandatory items on 80% of drinks containers on shelves in the UK off-trade by the end of December 2013.[55] A report published in November 2014, confirmed that UK drinks producers had delivered on that pledge with a 79.3% compliance with the pledge elements as measured by products on shelf. Compared with labels from 2008 on a like-for-like basis, information on Unit alcohol content had increased by 46%; 91% of products displayed alcohol and pregnancy warnings (18% in 2008); and 75% showed the Chief Medical Officers' lower risk daily guidelines (6% in 2008).[56]

Studies published in 2021 in the UK showed that the label could be further enhanced by including pictures of units and a statement of the drinking guidelines - this would help people understand the recommended limits better.[57][58]

See also

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  • iconLiquor portal
  • Drink portal
  • Alcoholic spirits measure

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The term "standard drink" was used in the United Kingdom in the first guidelines (1984) that published "safe limits" for drinking, but this was replaced by reference to units of alcohol in the 1987 guidelines and that term has been used in all subsequent UK guidance.[28]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway". 20 June 2017.
  2. ^ Furtwaengler, Nina A. F. F.; De Visser, Richard O. (2013). "Lack of international consensus in low-risk drinking guidelines". Drug and Alcohol Review. 32 (1): 11–18. doi:10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00475.x. PMID 22672631.
  3. ^ a b c "AUDIT The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Second Edition)" (pdf). WHO. 2001. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Kalinowski, A.; Humphreys, K. (13 April 2016). "Governmental standard drink definitions and low-risk alcohol consumption guidelines in 37 countries". Addiction. 111 (7): 1293–8. doi:10.1111/add.13341. PMID 27073140.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Drinking Guidelines: General Population". IARD.org. International Alliance for Responsible Drinking. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  6. ^ Population Health Division, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing The Australian Standard Drink Archived 2019-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Canadian Public Health Association. URL: [1]. 2006.
  8. ^ Centre for Addiction and Mental Health / Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines
  9. ^ a b Canada, Health (17 May 2013). "Alcohol use". www.canada.ca.
  10. ^ "UVic study suggests setting minimum alcohol price could reduce deaths, hospital visits". Vancouver Island. 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Rethink Your Drinking | What's a Standard Drink?". Archived from the original on 8 August 2019.
  12. ^ paihdelinkki.fi, How to use alcohol wisely
  13. ^ "Was ist ein Standardglas?" [What is a standard drink?]. Alkohol? Kenn dein Limit. (in German). Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  14. ^ Department of Health Alcohol and Health: Hong Kong Situation
  15. ^ "Landlæknisembættið, Icelandic Directorate of Health" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  16. ^ Hope, A. (2009). A Standard Drink in Ireland: What strength? (PDF). Health Service Executive. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  17. ^ a b "AUDIT The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Second Edition)" AUDIT アルコール使用障害特定テスト使用マニュアル (pdf). WHO (in Japanese). p. 17. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  18. ^ a b c Higuchi, Susumu [in Japanese]. "飲酒量の単位" 飲酒量の単位 [Units of alcoholic drink]. Japan MHLW (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  19. ^ a b Okazaki, Naoto (16 March 2010). 多量飲酒者へのAUDITを用いた介入 (PDF). MHLW (in Japanese). p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2025. 飲酏量の単位を「ドリンク」と言う。(「単位」と訳した版あり)「純アルコール10gを含むアルコール飲料」=「1ドリンク」 [The unit of consumption is "dorinku" (sometimes translated as "tan'i"). An alcoholic beverage which contains 10 g of pure alcohol = 1 dorinku.]
    • Referring web page: 平成21年度たばこ・アルコール対策担当者講習会 [Fiscal year 2009 Seminar for tobacco and alcohol control]. MHLW (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2025. 日時 平成22年2月22日(月) [Date of seminar: 22 February 2010]
  20. ^ Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Chubu District Transport Bureau (1 October 2020). 飲酒運転防止②~アルコールは「単位」から「ドリンク」へ~ (PDF) (in Japanese). p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ MHLW (5 October 2011). アルコール指導のポイント Core-AUDITの章 [tips on alcohol use control consultation – Core-AUDIT] (PDF). National Institute of Public Health of Japan (in Japanese). p. 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 December 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2020. 1単位=純アルコール9~12g [1 tan'i = 9–12g of pure alcohol]
  22. ^ New Zealand Food Safety Authority Archived 2008-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) What's in a Standard Drink
  24. ^ "Vad är ett standardglas alkohol? | alkoholhjälpen.se". alkoholhjalpen.se.
  25. ^ "วิธีเลิกเหล้าด้วยตนเอง". www.siphhospital.com. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  26. ^ PRODIGY Knowledge (Department of Health) Alcohol and Sensible Drinking Archived 2006-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ a b "How long does alcohol stay in your blood?". NHS Choices. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  28. ^ "Alcohol guidelines, Eleventh Report of Session 2010–12" (PDF). UK Parliament. House of Commons, Science and Technology Committee. 7 December 2011. p. 7. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  29. ^ "What is an alcohol unit? | Drinkaware".
  30. ^ a b c "What's a Standard Drink Measurement?". Rethinking Drinking. NIAAA. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  31. ^ "Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions". CDC. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  32. ^ a b Haynes, William M., ed. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (92nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 3.246. ISBN 1-4398-5511-0.
  33. ^ Mongan, Deirdre; Long, Jean (22 May 2015). "Standard drink measures throughout Europe; peoples' understanding of standard drinks and their use in drinking guidelines, alcohol surveys and labelling" (PDF). Reducing Alcohol Related Harm. p. 8. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  34. ^ 14 grams of alcohol is 0.6 US fluid ounces or ~18 mL. → Ethanol listed as 0.78945 g/mL @ 20°C (68°F), 0.6 US fl oz × 29.57 mL/US fl oz = 17.742 ml; 0.78945 g/mL × 17.742 mL = 14.006g
  35. ^ "Alcohol: the Devil is in the Details {So why won't major American wine media run %s in reviews?".
  36. ^ The volume of the drink in litres multiplied by its percentage strength in ABV give the number of units. In this case, 0.568 × 5.2 gives 2.95; i.e., almost 3 units.
  37. ^ "Alcohol Units- Drugs and Alcohol Public Health Agency Northern Ireland". www.alcoholandyouni.com. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  38. ^ "Question:- "How much alcohol is there in WKD vodka blue?"". Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  39. ^ "Health Effects of Alcohol". Drinkaware.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  40. ^ "Sex differences in alcohol metabolism". Women's Health Research Institute: Northwestern University.
  41. ^ Drink limits ‘useless’, The Times, 20 October 2007
  42. ^ "Sensible Drinking. The Report of an Inter-Departmental Working Group" (PDF). www.ias.org.uk. Department of Health. December 1995. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  43. ^ "Government's Alcohol Strategy.Third Report of Session 2012–13" (PDF). House of Commons.Health Committee. The Stationery Office by Order of the House. 10 July 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  44. ^ "Sensible drinking". NIdirect Government Services. 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  45. ^ UK Department of Health (August 2016). UK Chief Medical Officers' Low Risk Drinking Guidelines (PDF) (Report).
  46. ^ "Consultation outcome Health risks from alcohol: new guidelines". Department of Health and Social Care. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  47. ^ UK Department of Health (August 2016). UK Chief Medical Officers' Low Risk Drinking Guidelines (PDF) (Report).
  48. ^ Griswold, M (2018). "Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016". The Lancet. 392 (10152): 1015–1035. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31310-2. PMC 6148333. PMID 30146330.
  49. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2025). Review of Evidence on Alcohol and Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi:10.17226/28582. ISBN 978-0-309-71643-4. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  50. ^ Ed Kuwatch. "Fast Eddie's 8/10 Method of Hand Calculating Blood Alcohol Concentration: A Simple Method For Using Widmark's Formula". Archived from the original on 2 December 2003.
  51. ^ a b Jones, Sandra C.; Gregory, Parri (May 2009). "The impact of more visible standard drink labelling on youth alcohol consumption: Helping young people drink (ir)responsibly?". Drug and Alcohol Review. 28 (3): 230–234. doi:10.1111/j.1465-3362.2008.00020.x. PMID 21462396.
  52. ^ Australia New Zealand Food Authority (26 June 2002). "7.5 Standard drink labelling for alcoholic beverages produced in New Zealand". Final Assessment Report (Inquiry - S.26) (PDF).
  53. ^ a b "Alcohol Labelling pledge". Dept of Health (UK). Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  54. ^ "The risks of drinking too much". nhs.uk. 3 October 2018.
  55. ^ a b "UK Alcohol Health Labelling". Portman Group. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  56. ^ "Drinks companies achieve voluntary alcohol labelling target". Portman Group. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  57. ^ "Drinks labels with pictures and guidelines could improve public understanding of Government recommendations". NIHR Evidence (Plain English summary). 23 June 2021. doi:10.3310/alert_46590. S2CID 242903619.
  58. ^ Gold, Natalie; Egan, Mark; Londakova, Kristina; Mottershaw, Abigail; Harper, Hugo; Burton, Robyn; Henn, Clive; Smolar, Maria; Walmsley, Matthew; Arambepola, Rohan; Watson, Robin (19 January 2021). "Effect of alcohol label designs with different pictorial representations of alcohol content and health warnings on knowledge and understanding of low-risk drinking guidelines: a randomized controlled trial". Addiction. 116 (6): 1443–1459. doi:10.1111/add.15327. ISSN 0965-2140. PMC 8248341. PMID 33169443.
[edit]
  • Online converter between different countries' standard drinks and units
  • Drinkaware
  • NHS Choices: Drinking and alcohol
  • NHS Choices: Alcohol unit calculator (archived 21 February 2015)
  • Online alcohol demotivator calculator
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  • t
  • e
Alcohol use and control
Alcohol use
Alcohol-related crimes
  • Drunk driving
    • Alcohol-related traffic crashes in the United States
    • Drunk driving in the United States
  • Moonshine
    • Bathtub gin
  • Prison alcohol
    • Pájaro verde
    • Pruno
  • Public intoxication
  • Rum-running
  • Sly-grog shop
  • Wine fraud
Alcoholism
  • Alcohol and Native Americans
  • Alcoholism in adolescence
  • Alcoholism in family systems
  • Alcoholism in rural Australia
  • Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism
  • Disease theory of alcoholism
  • High-functioning alcoholic (HFA)
  • Seeing pink elephants
Chemistry
  • Beverage-specific
    • Beer chemistry
    • Wine chemistry
  • Comparison of psychoactive alcohols in alcoholic drinks
  • Congener
    • Alcohol congener analysis
  • Ethanol
    • Blood alcohol content
  • Fusel alcohol
Effects
  • Short-term effects of alcohol consumption
  • Long-term effects of alcohol
  • Pharmacology of ethanol
  • Subjective response to alcohol
Adverse effects
  • Anxiety
  • Aging
  • Brain
  • Cancer
    • breast cancer
  • Cortisol
  • Memory
  • Sleep
  • Tolerance/intolerance
  • Weight
  • Beverage-specific
    • Beer: Potomania
    • Wine: Red wine headache
Health issues
  • Cirrhosis
  • Fetal alcohol syndrome
Social issues
  • Adulterated alcohol
    • Adulterated moonshine
    • Denatured alcohol (List of methanol poisoning incidents)
    • Surrogate alcohol
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Alcohol advertising
    • on college campuses
  • Sex
    • Beer goggles
  • Alcohol myopia
  • Alcohol in association football
  • Alcohol use among college students
  • Binge drinking
    • Austrian syndrome
    • Alcohol intoxication
    • Epidemiology of binge drinking
    • Holiday heart syndrome
    • Problematic alcoholic products
      • Alcohol powder
      • Alcopop
      • Borg
      • Low-cost alcohol
        • Flavored fortified wine
      • Polysubstance alcoholic drinks
        • Caffeinated alcoholic drink
        • Coca wine
        • Nicotini
    • Zapoy
  • Blackout
  • Blackout Wednesday
  • Drinking game
    • list
    • Pregaming
  • Drinking in public
  • Drunk walking
  • Drunkorexia
  • Dry drunk
  • Dutch courage
  • Flaming drink
  • Hair of the dog
  • Hurtful communication
    • Drunk dialing
    • In vino veritas
  • Nightcap
  • Pantsdrunk
  • Passive drinking
  • Binge drinking devices
    • Beer bong
    • Yard of ale
  • Routes of administration
    • Alcohol enema
    • Alcohol inhalation
    • Vodka eyeballing
  • Sconcing
History
  • Andrew Johnson alcoholism debate
  • Dionysian Mysteries
  • Dipsomania
  • Gilbert Paul Jordan
  • Gin Craze
  • List of deaths through alcohol
  • Rum ration
  • Rum Rebellion
  • Shebeen
  • Six o'clock swill
  • Illegal drinking establishments
    • Nip joint
    • Speakeasy
  • Whiskey Rebellion
General
  • Alcoholic beverage
  • Beer
    • Beer mile
    • International Beer Day
    • International Women's Collaboration Brew Day
    • Women in brewing
  • Drinking culture
    • Apéritif and digestif
    • Hangover remedies
    • Health effects of wine
      • Wine and food pairing
  • Drunken monkey hypothesis
  • Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility
  • Ladies' night
  • List of countries by alcohol consumption per capita
    • Alcohol consumption by youth in the United States
  • Ritual use of alcohol
  • Whiskey
    • International whisk(e)y day
Alcohol control
Alcohol law
  • Administrative License Suspension (ALS)
  • Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012
  • Alcohol exclusion laws
  • Alcohol monopoly
    • Alcoholic beverage control state
  • Alcohol packaging warning messages
  • Ban on caffeinated alcoholic drinks in the United States
  • Drunk driving law by country
    • DWI court
    • Field sobriety testing
    • Hip flask defence
    • Ignition interlock device
  • Dry county
    • List of dry communities by U.S. state
  • Last call
  • Legal drinking age
    • Legal drinking age in the United States
    • Shoulder tap
  • List of alcohol laws of US
Alcohol prohibition
  • List of countries with alcohol prohibition
  • Neo-prohibitionism
  • Temperance movement
Sobriety
  • Alcohol detoxification
  • Alcohol-free zone
    • Dry campus
    • Open-container law
  • Brief intervention
  • Designated driver
  • Alcohol rehabilitation
  • Drunk tank
  • Managed alcohol program
  • Non-alcoholic drink
    • List of cocktails
    • List of mixed drinks
    • Spritzer
    • Malt drinks
  • Teetotalism
  • Temperance bar
  • Temperance and Good Citizenship Day
  • Twelve-step groups
    • Al-Anon/Alateen
    • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA):
    • Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)
  • Sober companion
  • Sober curious
  • Sober living house
  • Sobering center
  • Sobrietol
  • Quit lit
Alcohol limitation
  • 0-0-1-3
  • Alcohol consumption recommendations
  • Alcohol education
  • Alcohol server training
  • Monitoring
    • Breathalyzer
    • Sweat alcohol content monitor
  • FRAMES
  • Campaigns
    • Dry January
    • Dry July
    • Get Your Sexy Back
    • Ocsober
  • Liquor license
  • Low-alcohol drinks
    • Fermented tea
    • Low-alcohol beer
    • Low-alcoholic malt drinks
    • Small beer
  • Measurement
    • Alcoholic spirits measure
    • Standard drink
Addiction medicine
  • Benzodiazepines
    • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Disulfiram-like drugs
    • Disulfiram
    • Calcium carbimide
    • Cyanamide
  • General anaesthetics
    • Nitrous oxide
  • Sulfonic acids
    • Acamprosate
    • Homotaurine
Religion and alcohol
  • Catholic
  • Christian views on alcohol
    • Alcohol in the Bible
  • Islam and alcohol
  • Words of Wisdom (LDS)
History
  • Beer Street and Gin Lane
  • Bratt System
  • Dry state
  • Gin Act 1751
  • Medicinal Liquor Prescriptions Act of 1933
Related
  • Index of alcohol-related articles
  • Alcohol and spaceflight
  • Gateway drug effect
  • Mood disorder
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Self-medication
  • Spins
  • Town drunk
  • French paradox
  • Category
  • v
  • t
  • e
Alcoholic beverages
History and production
History of alcohol
  • History of alcoholic beverages
  • History of beer
  • History of wine
    • History of Bordeaux wine
    • History of Champagne
    • History of Chianti
    • History of Rioja wine
    • History of Sherry
Production
  • Alcohol industry
  • Bathtub gin
  • Brewing
    • Brewery
    • Malting
    • Lautering
    • Wort
    • Yeast
  • Distillation
  • Drinking establishments
  • Fermentation
    • Simple syrup
    • Yeast in winemaking
  • Winemaking
    • Yeast in winemaking
Fermented drinks by ingredients
Fruit
  • Apple
    • Cider
  • Banana
    • Banana beer
    • Banana wine
  • Bignay
    • Bignay wine
  • Bokbunja
    • Bokbunja-ju
  • Grape
    • Madeira wine
    • Marsala wine
    • Mistelle
    • Moscatel de Setúbal
    • Orange wine
    • Port wine
    • Red wine
    • Rosé wine
    • Sherry
    • Vermouth
    • White wine
  • Java plum
    • Duhat wine
  • Longan
    • Longan wine
  • Lychee
    • Lychee wine
  • Pear
    • Perry
  • Pineapple
    • Tepache
  • Plum
    • Plum jerkum
  • Pomegranate
    • Rimon
  • Prickly pear
    • Colonche
  • Various fruits
    • Conditum
    • Dubonnet
    • Hippocras
    • Jabol
    • Mulled wine
    • Nabidh
    • Pruno
    • Sangria
Cereals
  • Barley
    • Barley wine
  • Corn
    • Mageu
    • Pozol
    • Tejuino
    • Tesgüino
  • Millet
    • Oshikundu
    • Tongba
  • Rice
    • Agkud
    • Amazake
    • Apo
    • Beopju
    • Brem
    • Choujiu
    • Chuak
    • Dansul
    • Gwaha-ju
    • Hariya
    • Makgeolli
    • Mijiu
    • Mirin
    • Pangasi
    • Rice wine
    • Rượu cần
    • Sake
    • Sato
    • Shaoxing wine
    • Sonti
    • Tapai
    • Tapuy
    • Zu
  • Rye
    • Kvass
  • Sorghum
    • Pendhā
  • Multiple grains
    • Ale
    • Ara
    • Beer
    • Boza
    • Huangjiu
Other
  • Agave americana
    • Pulque
  • Coconut and other palms
    • Bahalina
    • Palm wine
    • Tuak
    • Tubâ
    • Tuhak
    • Tunggang
  • Dairy
    • Kumis
  • Ginger
    • Ginger wine
  • Galangal
    • Byais
  • Honey
    • Bais
    • Byais
    • Kabarawan
    • Mead
  • Sugar
    • Kilju
  • Sugarcane or molasses
    • Basi
    • Intus
    • Palek
  • Tea
    • Fermented tea
    • Kombucha
  • Various starches
    • Cauim
    • Chicha
    • Parakari
    • Ibwatu
Liquors by ingredients
Fruit
  • Apple
    • Applejack
    • Calvados
  • Cashew apple
    • Feni
  • Cherry
    • Kirschwasser
  • Dates
    • Araqi
  • Fig
    • Boukha
  • Grape
    • Arak
    • Armagnac
    • Brandy
    • Cognac
    • Pisco
    • Zivania
  • Juniper
    • Gin
  • Plum
    • Slivovitz
    • Țuică
  • Pomace
    • Chacha
    • Grappa
    • Marc
    • Orujo
    • Tsikoudia
    • Tsipouro
    • Zivania
  • Various fruits
    • Brandy
    • Eau de vie
    • Geist
    • Himbeergeist
    • Marillenschnaps
    • Nalewka
    • Oghi
    • Pálinka
    • Rakia
    • Schnaps
Cereals
  • Barley
    • Irish whiskey
    • Japanese whisky
    • Scotch whisky
  • Beer
    • Bierbrand
  • Buckwheat
    • Buckwheat whisky
  • Maize
    • Bourbon whiskey
    • Corn whiskey
    • Tennessee whiskey
  • Rice
    • Awamori
    • Cheongju
    • Cholai
    • Lao-Lao
    • Lihing
    • Mixiang Baijiu
    • Shochu
    • Soju
    • Sulai
  • Rye
    • Korn
    • Rye whiskey
    • Starka
  • Sorghum
    • Baijiu (Kaoliang liquor)
  • Multiple grains
    • Ara
    • American whiskey
    • Baijiu
    • Canadian whisky
    • Shōchū
    • Whisky
Other
  • Agave
    • Mezcal
    • Tequila
  • Coconut and other palms
    • Arrack
    • Laksoy
    • Lambanog
    • Sotol
  • Dairy
    • Arkhi
  • Maple syrup
    • Acerum
  • Sugarcane or molasses
    • Aguardiente
    • Cachaça
    • Clairin
    • Desi daru
    • Guaro
    • Rum
    • Seco Herrerano
    • Sulai
    • Sura
    • Tharra
  • Various starches
    • Aguardiente
    • Akvavit
    • Bangla
    • Horilka
    • Poitín
    • Shōchū
    • Vodka
Liqueurs and infused distilled drinks by ingredients
  • Almond
    • Amaretto
    • Crème de Noyaux
  • Anise
    • Absinthe
    • Anisado
        • Anisado Mallorca
    • Anisette
    • Arak
    • Hierbas
        • Hierbas de Mallorca
    • Mastika
    • Ouzo
    • Rakı
    • Sambuca
  • Beer
    • Bierlikör
  • Blackcurrant buds
    • Kontabas
  • Blackthorn shrub
    • Patxaran
  • Cherry
    • Cherry Heering
    • Guignolet
    • Maraschino
    • Wiśniówka/Vyshnivka
  • Chili peppers
    • Pertsivka
  • Chocolate
    • Chocolate liqueur
  • Cinnamon
    • Tentura
  • Cloudberry
    • Lakka
  • Coconut
    • Malibu
  • Coffee
    • Kahlúa
    • Tia Maria
  • Cream
    • Cream liqueur
    • Irish cream
  • Egg
    • Advocaat
    • Eggnog
  • Hazelnut
    • Frangelico
  • Herbs
    • Amaro
    • Aquavit
    • Aperol
    • Becherovka
    • Bénédictine
    • Bitters
    • Brennivín
    • Chartreuse
    • Crème de menthe
    • Crème de violette
    • Jägermeister
    • Kräuterlikör
    • Metaxa
    • Riga Black Balsam
    • Vana Tallinn
    • Unicum
    • Żubrówka
  • Honey
    • Bärenjäger
    • Drambuie
    • Glayva
    • Irish Mist
    • Krambambula
    • Krupnik
  • Juniper
    • Borovička
    • Brinjevec
    • Gin
    • Jenever
  • Mammee apple flower
    • Eau créole
  • Maple syrup
    • Maple liqueur
  • Orange
    • Cointreau
    • Curaçao
    • Grand Marnier
    • Triple sec
  • Raspberry
    • Chambord
  • Star anise
    • Pastis
    • Sassolino
  • Sugarcane/molasses
    • Charanda
  • Vanilla
    • Licor 43
  • Various fruits
    • Campari
    • Cedratine
    • Crème de banane
    • Crème de cassis
    • Limoncello
    • Nalewka
    • Schnapps
    • Sloe gin
  • Walnut
    • Nocino
  • List

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