Alcohol and drinking - current daily guidelines for sensible drinking

Female 2-3 units or less
Male 3-4 units or less

Refraining on one day should not mean excess on another. If you choose to drink when you're pregnant (or planning to become pregnant), you should consume no more than 1-2 units of alcohol once or twice a week.

1 unit of alcohol =

half a pint of ordinary strength lager/beer/cider (3.5% ABV) OR 25 ml pub measure of spirit (40% ABV) OR a small glass of wine (9% ABV)

Wine	Alcohol	Measure	Number of Drinks 1 2 3 4
Red	12% vol	125ml std glass	1.5	3	4.5	6
White	12% vol	125ml std glass	1.5	3	4.5	6
Champagne	12% vol	125ml std glass	1.5	3	4.5	6
Vermouth	15% vol	50ml	0.8	1.5	2.3	3
Sherry	17.5% vol	50ml	0.9	1.8	2.6	3.5
Port	20% vol	50ml	1	2	3	4

 

Lager/Beer	Alcohol	Measure	Number of Drinks 1 2 3 4
Super Strength	9% vol	440ml can	4	7.9	11.9	15.8
Premium	5% vol	1pint (568ml)	2.8	5.7	8.5	11.4
Standard	3.5% vol	1pint (568ml)	2	4	6	8
Low Alcohol	1% vol	275ml can	0.3	0.6	0.8	1.1

Cider	Alcohol	Measure	Number of Drinks 1 2 3 4
Strong	8.5% vol	275ml bottle	2.3	4.7	7	9.4
Regular	5% vol	1 pint (568ml)	2.8	5.7	8.5	11.4

 

Spirits	Alcohol	Measure	Number of Drinks 1 2 3 4
Gin	37.5% vol	25ml	0.9	1.9	2.8	3.8
Whisky/Bourbon	40% vol	25ml	1	2	3	4
Vodka	37.5% vol	25ml	0.9	1.9	2.8	3.8
Rum	37.5% vol	25ml	0.9	1.9	2.8	3.8
Brandy	40% vol	25ml	1	2	3	4

 

Alcopops	Alcohol	Measure	Number of Drinks 1 2 3 4
Alcopops	5% vol	330ml bottle	1.7	3.3	5	6.6

This article published on
01 August 2005

Next review date 01/08/2006

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