Unit of alcohol

Units of alcohol are used in the United Kingdom (UK) as a measure to quantify the actual alcoholic content within a given volume of an alcoholic beverage, in order to provide guidance on total alcohol consumption.

A large (250 ml) glass of 12% ABV red wine has about three units of alcohol. A medium (175 ml) glass has about two units.[Note 1]

A number of other countries (including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US) use the concept of a standard drink, the definition of which varies from country to country, for the same purpose. Standard drinks were referred to in the first UK guidelines (1984) that published "safe limits" for drinking, but these were replaced by references to "alcohol units" in the 1987 guidelines and the latter term has been used in all subsequent UK guidance.[1]

One unit of alcohol (UK) is defined as 10 millilitres (8 grams) of pure alcohol.[2][3] Typical drinks (i.e., typical quantities or servings of common alcoholic drinks) may contain 1–3 units of alcohol.[3]

Containers of alcoholic drinks sold directly to UK consumers are normally labelled to indicate the number of units of alcohol in a typical serving (optional) and in the full container (can or bottle), as well as information about responsible drinking.[4]

As an approximate guideline, a typical healthy adult can metabolise (break down) about one unit of alcohol per hour,[3] although this may vary depending on sex, age, weight, health and many other factors.

Formula

The number of UK units of alcohol in a drink can be determined by multiplying the volume of the drink (in millilitres) by its percentage ABV, and dividing by 1000.

For example, one imperial pint (568 ml) of beer at 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) contains:

The formula uses ml ÷ 1000. This results in exactly one unit per percentage point per litre, of any alcoholic beverage.

The formula can be simplified for everyday use by expressing the serving size in centilitres and the alcohol content literally as a percentage:

Thus, a 750 ml bottle of wine at 12% ABV contains 75 cl × 12% = 9 units. Alternatively, the serving size in litres multiplied by the alcohol content as a number, the above example giving 0.75 × 12 = 9 units:

Both pieces of input data are usually mentioned in this form on the bottle, so is easy to retrieve.

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

UK alcohol companies pledged in March 2011 to implement an innovative health labelling scheme to provide more information about responsible drinking on alcohol labels and containers. This voluntary scheme is the first of its kind in Europe and has been developed in conjunction with the UK Department of Health. The pledge stated:[5]

"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.[5]

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)
  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".[6]

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.[6] 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).[7]

Quantities
Chart showing alcohol unit count for drink size and ABV

It is sometimes misleadingly stated that there is one unit per half-pint of beer, or small glass of wine, or single measure of spirits. However, such statements do not take into account the various strengths and volumes supplied in practice.[8][9][10][11]

For example, the ABV of beer typically varies from 3.5% to 5.5%. A typical "medium" glass of wine with 175 ml at 12% ABV has 2.1 units. And spirits, although typically 35–40% ABV, have single measures of 25 ml or 35 ml (so 1 or 1.4 units) depending on location.[8][9][10][11]

The misleading nature of "one unit per half-pint of beer, or small glass of wine, or single measure of spirits" can lead to people underestimating their alcohol intake.[8][9][10][11]

Beers
  • Half an imperial pint (284 ml) of beer with 3.5% ABV contains almost exactly one unit; however, most beers are stronger. In pubs in the United Kingdom, beers generally range from 3.5–5.5% ABV, and continental lagers start at around 4% ABV. An imperial pint of such lager (e.g., 568 ml at 5.2%) contains almost 3 units of alcohol[12] rather than the oft-quoted 2 units.
  • Stronger beer (6–12%) may contain 2 units or more per half pint (imperial).
  • A half-litre (500 ml) of standard lager or ale (5%) contains 2.5 units.
  • One litre (1000 ml) of typical Oktoberfest beer (5.5–6%) contains 5.5–6 units of alcohol.
  • A beer bottle is typically 333-355ml, approximately 1.7 units at 5%.

Wines
  • A medium glass (175 ml) of 12% ABV wine contains around two units of alcohol. However, British pubs and restaurants often supply larger quantities (large glass ≈ 250 ml), which contain 3 units. Red wines often have a higher alcohol content (on average 12.5%, sometimes up to 16%).
  • Wine sold by the glass is often served in nearly full glasses. Wine served at home, or when bought by the bottle in, say, a restaurant, is usually served in glasses less than half filled; the capacity of a wine glass is not the only criterion for judging quantity.
  • A 750 ml 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.

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

Spirits

Most spirits sold in the United Kingdom have 40% ABV or slightly less. In England, a single pub measure (25 ml) of a spirit contains one unit. However, a larger 35 ml measure is increasingly used (and in particular is standard in Northern Ireland[13]), 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.

Alcopops
  • 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 bottle of WKD contains 1.1 units, whereas Bacardi Breezer and Smirnoff Ice both contain 1.5 units of alcohol."[14]

Time to metabolise

On average, it takes about one hour for the body to metabolise (break down) one unit of alcohol. 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.[15]

Main article: Recommended maximum intake of alcoholic beverages

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.[16] (The difference between the sexes was due to the typically lower weight and water-to-body-mass ratio of women).[17] The Times claimed in October 2007 that these limits had been "plucked out of the air" and had no scientific basis.[18]

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,[19][20] 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.[21]

An international study[22] of about 6,000 men and 11,000 women for a total of 75,000 person-years found that people who reported that they drank more than a threshold value of 2 units of alcohol a day had a higher risk of fractures than non-drinkers. For example, those who drank over 3 units a day had nearly twice the risk of a hip fracture.

See also

Notes
  1. Even though the sizes of wine glasses are defined in UK law, the terms large, medium, standard, etc. are not defined in law.

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Drinkaware - What is an alcohol unit?".
  3. "How long does alcohol stay in your blood?". NHS Choices. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  4. "Alcohol Labelling". Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  5. "Alcohol Labelling pledge". Dept of Health (UK). Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  6. "UK Alcohol Health Labelling". Portman Group. Portman Group. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  7. "Drinks companies achieve voluntary alcohol labelling target". Portman Group. Portman Group. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  8. "Getting tight on units of alcohol". Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  9. "What is a unit of alcohol?". Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  10. "What is a Unit of Alcohol Anyway? -apas : Alcohol, Gambling, Solutions". Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  11. "BBC News - Do you know how much you drink?". Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  12. 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.
  13. "What is a unit of alcohol | Alcohol and You Northern Ireland". www.alcoholandyouni.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  14. "Question:- "How much alcohol is there in WKD vodka blue?"". Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  15. "How long does alcohol stay in your blood?". Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  16. "Health Effects of Alcohol". Drinkaware.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  17. "Sex differences in alcohol metabolism". Women's Health Research Institute: Northwestern University.
  18. Drink limits ‘useless’, The Times, 20 October 2007 Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  19. "Sensible Drinking. The Report of an Inter-Departmental Working Group" (PDF). www.ias.org.uk. Department of Health. December 1995. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  20. "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. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  21. "Sensible drinking". NIdirect Government Services. 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  22. Kanis JA, Johansson H, Johnell O, et al. (July 2005). "Alcohol intake as a risk factor for fracture". Osteoporosis International. 16 (7): 737–42. doi:10.1007/s00198-004-1734-y. PMID 15455194.
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