Alcohol units and calories calculator
A UK unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol, and you can work out the units in any drink from its volume and strength. FitCalcs also shows the calories, because pure alcohol carries about 7 calories per gram, which is why drinks add up fast. Pick a common drink or set your own, and see how your total compares to the NHS low-risk guideline of 14 units a week. This is general information, not medical advice.
How this is worked out
A UK unit is 10 ml (8 g) of pure alcohol. The unit count comes straight from volume and strength:
units = (ml x ABV%) ÷ 1000
calories = grams of alcohol x 7
grams = units x 8; pure alcohol is about 7 kcal per gram
The NHS low-risk guideline is no more than 14 units a week for both men and women, spread over three or more days. The calorie figure counts the alcohol only; mixers, sugar and the drink itself add more.
Informational only, not medical advice. If you are worried about your drinking, speak to a GP or Drinkaware. Editorially reviewed by FitCalcs, with each figure citing its source.
Common questions
How do I work out the units in a drink?
Multiply the drink volume in millilitres by its strength (ABV) as a percentage, then divide by 1,000. A UK unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol, so a 175 ml glass of 13 percent wine is about 2.3 units. FitCalcs does this for you from the volume and strength you enter.
How many calories are in alcohol?
Pure alcohol carries about 7 calories per gram, nearly as much as fat, which is why drinks add up quickly and often carry more sugar on top. FitCalcs shows the calories alongside the units so you can see both. This is general information, not medical advice.
What is the weekly low-risk drinking guideline?
The NHS advises not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week for both men and women, spread over three or more days rather than saved up. FitCalcs shows how your total compares to that 14-unit figure so you can see where a session or a week sits.
Why do alcoholic drinks add calories so fast?
Because alcohol itself is calorie-dense at about 7 calories per gram, and many drinks add sugar from mixers, wine or beer on top. A few pints or large glasses of wine can rival a meal in calories, which is why cutting back on alcohol is a common first step when people want to lose weight.
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Editor, FitCalcs
Oliver Mackman is the named editor of FitCalcs and a director of Best Business Loans Ltd (Companies House 16833937), the company that operates the site. He is accountable for its editorial standards, sourcing and corrections, and requires every result to cite the underlying equation and the named UK source behind it, with health tools carrying the appropriate not-medical-advice caveats.
Last reviewed: 12 June 2026