Standard drinks and ABV by country
A “standard drink” contains a fixed amount of pure alcohol, but the definition differs by country — from 8 g in the UK to 14 g in the US. Counting units is the safe way to follow guidelines like “no more than 14 units a week” (UK) or “2 drinks or fewer a day” (US).
| Drink type | Typical ABV | Standard drinks in one serving |
|---|---|---|
| Light beer | 3.5–4.2% | 0.6 (12 oz / 355 ml) |
| Regular beer | 4.5–5.5% | 0.9 (12 oz / 355 ml) |
| Craft IPA | 6–7.5% | 1.2–1.5 |
| Wine (red/white) | 12–14.5% | 1.4–1.7 (5 oz / 150 ml) |
| Sparkling wine | 11–12.5% | 1.3 |
| Sake | 15–16% | 1.8 (6 oz / 180 ml) |
| Cocktail (spirit-based) | 20–40% total | 1.4–2+ depending on pours |
| Spirits (vodka, gin, whisky) | 40% | 1.0 (1.5 oz / 44 ml shot) |
| Liqueur | 15–30% | 0.5–1 per pour |
| Alcopop / RTD | 4–7% | 0.8–1.4 per 330 ml |
Notes
- Standard drink pure-alcohol weights: US 14 g, UK 8 g, Australia 10 g, Japan ~19.75 g (a “gō” unit), WHO 10 g.
- Formula: units ≈ volume (L) × ABV(%) × 0.789. A 330 ml 5% beer ≈ 1.3 UK units.
- Zero-safe driving: there is no amount that is guaranteed safe — skip the first drink if driving.
Frequently asked questions
- How much alcohol is in a standard drink?
- It depends where you are: 14 g pure alcohol in the US, 10 g in Australia, 8 g in the UK, 10 g per WHO definition — so “one drink” means different things abroad.
- How many units is a glass of wine?
- A 150 ml glass at 13% ABV is about 1.5 UK units (2.1 ÷ 1.4) — most restaurant pours are larger than the textbook 125 ml.
- What ABV is considered strong beer?
- Above ~6% is generally “strong”; most mainstream lagers sit at 4.5–5.5%.