Research shows us that most of us are confused by 'units' or 'standard drinks' Is this a glass of wine, if so how big and what degree alcohol?
Government advice on sensible drinking for adults
Unit Calculator
Wine (av)
125ml (small glass)
175ml (standard glass)
2.1 units
12%
1.5 units
1.75 units
2.45 units
14%
Beer (abv)
Half Pint
330ml bottle
Pint
2.2 units
4%
1.1 units
5%
1.4 units
1.7 units
2.8 units
Spirits (abv)
25ml (single)
50ml (double)
40%
1 unit
2 units
Men: 3-4 units per day
Women: 2-3 units per day
Who do the guidelines apply to?
The daily government guidelines do not apply to young people who have not reached physical maturity, people with conditions which may be affected by alcohol, such as high blood pressure, or who those are taking medications that do not combine well with alcohol, who should consult their G.P. for guidance.
Worldwide Recommendations on Alcohol Consumption Summary Table
Men
Women
Country
Authority
Sub-Group
Unit (g)
Max g/day
Max g/wk
Max g/day
Max g/wk
Australia
National Health and Medical Research Council1
10
40
20
Austria
Bundesministerium für Gesundheit und
beer & wine
12
252
168
Konsumenschutz1
spirits
6
126
84
Canada
Addiction Research Foundation1,2
13.6
190
190
Czech Republic
National Institute of Public Health
24
16
Denmark
Sundhedsstyrelsen1
12
252
168
Finland
Oy ALKO AB
11
161
112
France
Academy of Medicine
wine
12
60
36
Ireland
Department of Health
8
24
16
Italy
Ministero della Sanita
non elderly
10
40
30
elderly
10
30
25
Japan
Ministry of Health and Welfare1
men only
19.75
39.5
-
-
New Zealand
Alcohol Advisory Council1
10
210
140
Portugal
Conselho Nacional de Alimentaccao e Nutrica (CNAN)
14
37
18.5
Romania
Health Ministry
beer
32.5
17.3
wine
20.7
10.8
Spain
Ministry of Health and Consumption
10
304
204
Sweden
Systembolaget
low risk3
126
95
not dangerous3
47
38
United Kingdom
Department of Health1
8
32
24
United States
Departments of Agriculture/Health and Human Services
14
28
14
Note:
The data presented above are estimates only. In some cases different advice is given to sub-populations (such as pregnant women).
1. Drink free days are clearly advised and may be reflected in the estimates.
2. Endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and the Canadian Medical Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs. No distinction by sex; "adult man of average build" is used as a reference.
3. Systembolaget publishes its advice in terms of 40% spirits, and notes approximately equivalent values for beer and wine. The chart lists figures for "not dangerous" and "low risk" categories.
4. Suggests a maximum of double this value "on any one occasion".
Eubulus Greek poet on wine
'Three bowls only do I mix for the temperate: one to health, the second to love and pleasure, the third to sleep. The fourth bowl is ours no longer, but belongs to violence; the fifth to uproar, the sixth to drunken revel, the seventh to black eyes, the eigth is the policeman's, the ninth belongs to billiousness, and the tenth to madness and hurling the furniture'
