Alcohol-3

How many units are in a bottle of beer?

1.5units

That is a 330ml bottle at 4.5% ABV. One UK unit is 10ml of pure alcohol. The weekly guideline of 14 units works out at about 9 of these across a whole week.

Bottled beer usually comes in 330ml, and increasingly in 660ml sharing bottles. A 660ml bottle is more than a pint, which catches people out.

Two hands in silhouette touching beer bottles together against a low sun

Units by size and strength

DrinkSizeStrengthUnits
Bottle (330ml) of 4%330ml4%1.3
Bottle (330ml) of 4.5%Most common330ml4.5%1.5
Bottle (330ml) of 5%330ml5%1.6
Bottle (500ml) of 4.5%500ml4.5%2.3
Large bottle (660ml) of 5%660ml5%3.3
Bottle (330ml) of 6.5% craft330ml6.5%2.1

How this is worked out

units = volume (ml) × ABV (%) ÷ 1000

For a 330ml bottle at 4.5% ABV: 330 × 4.5 ÷ 1000 = 1.5 units.

Try the unit calculator

The weekly guideline

The UK Chief Medical Officers advise no more than 14units a week for men and women alike, spread over three days or more, with several drink-free days. Drinking a week's worth in one session carries its own risks, separate from the weekly total.

If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Speak to your GP before cutting down sharply.

Related questions

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