Question 1

How do you calculate units of alcohol?

Accepted Answer

One UK unit is 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. To work out the units in a drink, multiply its volume in millilitres by its ABV percentage and divide by 1,000. A 568ml pint of 4.5% lager is 568 × 4.5 ÷ 1,000 ≈ 2.6 units; a 750ml bottle of 12.5% wine is about 9.4 units.

Question 2

What does cost per unit mean?

Accepted Answer

Cost per unit is the price of a drink divided by the number of UK units of alcohol it contains. It lets you compare very different drinks — a pint at the pub, a multipack of cans, a bottle of wine or a bottle of spirits — on a like-for-like basis. A lower cost per unit means more alcohol for your money.

Question 3

Which type of alcohol is usually cheapest per unit?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on the prices where you shop, which is why this calculator uses your own figures. As a rule of thumb, supermarket spirits and multipack beer or cider tend to have the lowest cost per unit, while draught drinks in pubs and bars cost several times more per unit. In Scotland and Wales, minimum unit pricing sets a legal floor on the price per unit in shops.

Question 4

Is a lower cost per unit a reason to drink more?

Accepted Answer

No. This tool compares prices, not the merits of drinking. The NHS advises adults not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread over three or more days. Knowing the units in each drink can actually help you keep track of how much you are drinking.