Standard Drinks Calculator
Alcohol is lighter than water, so multiply the volume by 0.789 to get grams. A 500 mL beer at 5% holds about 20 g. At 7 kcal a gram, alcohol is second only to fat for energy density.
Your numbers
Pure alcohol (g)
19.7g
Standard drinks
1.97drinks
Calories from drink
138kcal
What it means
That is 19.7 g of pure alcohol — 1.97 standard drinks at the WHO 10 g unit, and 138 kcal.
Formula
Pure alcohol (g) = Volume (mL) × ABV (%) ÷ 100 × 0.789
A “standard drink” differs by country: the WHO and most of Europe use 10 g, the US 14 g, and a UK unit is 8 g. That is why the grams matter for comparison.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Volume (mL) (mL)How much drink went down; with the strength it gives pure alcohol. | 500 | 0 and up |
| ABV (%) (%)The share of the drink that is alcohol, by volume. | 5 | 0 ~ 96 |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Volume (mL) (mL) changes and everything else stays put.
| Volume (mL) (mL) | Pure alcohol (g) (g) | Standard drinks (drinks) | Calories from drink (kcal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 9.9 | 0.99 | 69 |
| 375 | 14.8 | 1.48 | 104 |
| 500 | 19.7 | 1.97 | 138 |
| 750 | 29.6 | 2.96 | 207 |
| 1,000 | 39.5 | 3.95 | 276 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Pure alcohol (g) (g)The weight of alcohol you drank — volume times 0.789. | 19.7 |
| Standard drinks (drinks)Drinks counted at 10 g of pure alcohol each. | 1.97 |
| Calories from drink (kcal)Energy from the alcohol itself, at 7 kcal a gram. | 138 |
Common mistakes
A “standard drink” differs by country: the WHO and most of Europe use 10 g, the US 14 g, and a UK unit is 8 g. That is why the grams matter for comparison.
Glossary
- Volume (mL)
- How much drink went down; with the strength it gives pure alcohol.
- ABV (%)
- The share of the drink that is alcohol, by volume.
- Pure alcohol (g)
- The weight of alcohol you drank — volume times 0.789.
- Standard drinks
- Drinks counted at 10 g of pure alcohol each.
- Calories from drink
- Energy from the alcohol itself, at 7 kcal a gram.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Standard Drinks Calculator calculated?
Pure alcohol (g) = Volume (mL) × ABV (%) ÷ 100 × 0.789 — Alcohol is lighter than water, so multiply the volume by 0.789 to get grams. A 500 mL beer at 5% holds about 20 g. At 7 kcal a gram, alcohol is second only to fat for energy density.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Volume (mL) 500mL, ABV (%) 5%, the answer is Pure alcohol (g) 19.7g.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Volume (mL), ABV (%). The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Volume (mL) (mL) moves the answer to Volume (mL) (mL) 250 → Pure alcohol (g) (g) 9.9 and Volume (mL) (mL) 1,000 → Pure alcohol (g) (g) 39.5. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
A “standard drink” differs by country: the WHO and most of Europe use 10 g, the US 14 g, and a UK unit is 8 g. That is why the grams matter for comparison.
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These calculators help you understand health figures; they do not replace diagnosis or prescription. See a clinician if you have symptoms.