Alcoholic Drinks, Measures & Units

in the United Kingdom

Frank Tapson

An account of the different sorts and sizes of measures used in connection with alcoholic drinks and the relationships between them

Version 1.0 (2004) UK

The main terms and words covered in these pages are

units of alcohol pints alcohol by volume (%AbV) litres L proof centilitres cL calories millilitres mL

The definitions used for all calculations are

1 pint = 568.26125 mL (millilitres)

1 unit of alcohol = 10 mL of ethanol

100% proof = 57.06% alcohol by volume

and so this document is valid only in the UK.

Compared with USA where definitions needed would be 1 pint = 473.176473 mL (millilitres) 1 unit of alcohol = 17.7 mL of ethanol 100% proof = 50% alcohol by volume

The accuracy to which any particular figure, or set of figures, is given is that which is considered to best fit the context.

A much fuller account of all this, together with details of the measures used in other countries, and a set of on-screen calculators to handle all the calculations can be found on the Web at www.ex.ac.uk/trol/scol/alcohol

© Frank Tapson 2004

2 UK

Index

Introduction and basic facts 4

Units of alcohol, table of values showing content for Volumes 50 – 1000 mL and 1 – 40 %AbV 5

Units of alcohol, graphs showing content for Volumes 0 – 750 mL and 0 – 16 %AbV 6 Volumes 750 – 1000 mL and 0 – 16 %AbV 7 Volumes 0 – 750 mL and 16 – 40 %AbV 8 Volumes 750 – 1000 mL and 16 – 40 %AbV 9

Proof and %AbV conversion scales 10

Units and Calories conversion scales 11

Pocket Guide 12 & 13

3 UK Introduction and Basic Facts There is now a considerable body of opinion supporting the view that alcohol, in 'reasonable' amounts, can be of benefit to the health and general well-being of the human body. But the big question is, what is 'reasonable'? Which, in turn, makes one ponder on how it can best be measured? It was easy for scientific people to devise their own ways, but their methods were not exactly simple. And it needed to be user-friendly to convey messages about alcohol consumption, and its effects on health, to the general public. It was thoughts like these in the late 1970's and early 80's which led to the idea of creating a ‘unit of alcohol’. From hereon we refer to this simply as a ‘Unit’. The advice then offered is For ‘sensible drinking’ consumption of alcohol in one week should not exceed 28 Units for men 21 Units for women, and in any single drinking ‘session’ the consumption should not exceed 4 Units for men 3 Units for women. In addition, it is also recommended that at least one day of the week should be alcohol-free. Obviously, for this to be of any use at all, we need to know what a Unit is. First of all, we should be clear that it is not just a matter of how big the drink is, but only how much alcohol it contains. For instance, most people would probably accept without question the fact that one-eighth of a pint of whiskey can contain as much alcohol as a whole pint of beer. So we need to know the ‘strength’ of the drink. Fortunately, all alcoholic drinks now carry on their container a statement showing how much alcohol they contain, given as a percentage of the volume of the liquid. This is usually written in the form 15 %AbV (short for 15 percent Alcohol by Volume), which would mean (in this case) that 15% (about one-sixth) of the volume was pure alcohol. Then we need only to know that 10 millilitres of alcohol = 1 Unit, to be able to work out just how many Units there are in any volume of an alcoholic drink. Some idea of the variety and complexity of all this may be gained by looking at this set of results aimed at establishing a 2-Unit drink. Small glass (50 mL) of liquer (40 %AbV) contains 2 Units Glass (175 mL) of white wine (11.5 %AbV) contains 2 Units Glass (100 mL) of sherry (20 %AbV) contains 2 Units Half-pint (284 mL) of cider ( 7 %AbV) contains 2 Units Pint (568 mL) of beer (3.5 %AbV) contains 2 Units The following pages of tables, graphs and scales, are intended to remove the need to do the actual arithmetic needed, and allow those interested merely to look up the number of Units to be found in any given quantity of alcoholic drink at any particular %AbV (within the range of normal usage). Some facts which will allow quick assessments to be made in certain situations are: 1 pint beer (3.5%) = 2 Units 1 pint beer (5%) = 3 Units 1 bottle (750 mL) white wine (12%) = 9 Units (this covers Champagne) 1 bottle (750 mL) red wine (15%) = 11 Units A 750 mL bottle ‘fills’ between 4 & 6 glasses depending on their size. 1 bottle (700 mL) spirits (40%) = 28 Units For guidance on doing a Personal Consumption Audit, go to the Web-site listed at the front and look at the Background Notes.

Formulas If Volume = Volume of liquid measured in milliltres (mL) %AbV = Percentage of Alcohol by Volume in that liquid Units = Number of Units of Alcohol in that amount of that liquid. (where 1 Unit contains 10 mL of ethanol) Then the following relationships are true: Units = Volume × %AbV ÷ 1000 Volume = Units × 1000 ÷ %AbV %AbV = Units × 1000 ÷ Volume 4 UK Units of Alcohol Table shows number of units of alcohol for a given volume and %AbV

40 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 39 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 38 17 19 21 23 32 34 36 38 37 11 13 15 22 24 26 28 30 33 35 37 36 9 16 18 20 25 27 29 31 32 34 36 35 7142123 26 28 30 33 35 34 12 17 22 24 27 29 31 32 34 33 5 10151820232528303133 32 8 13 16 19 21 24 26 27 29 30 32 31 11 14 17 20 22 23 25 26 28 29 31 30 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 29 10 13 16 19 20 22 23 25 26 28 29 28 71417 18 21 24 25 27 28 27 4 8 11 12 15 16 19 20 22 23 24 26 27 26 9 13 17 18 21 22 23 25 26 25 51014 15 16 19 20 21 24 25 24 6 11 12 13 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 23 7 8 14 15 16 17 21 22 23 22 91011 12 13 14 18 19 20 22 22 21 15 16 17 18 19 21 21 20 1234567891011121314151617181920 19 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 17 5 6 7 1011121314 151617 16 4 7 8 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 %Alcohol by Volume ~ %AbV %Alcohol by Volume 15 368 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 5 7 910 1112131314 13 2 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 12 3 5 6 78 9 10 10 11 11 12 11 456788991011 10 12345678910 10 9 34566778899 8 2455 6 7788 7 1 2 33 44 5566677 6 2 3 44 55566 5 123 3 344 455 4 1 2 2 233 3444 3 11 2222 3333 2 111 111 22222 1 1111111 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000 Volume in millilitres ~ mL To use: find volume (in mL) at bottom of table and, from there, go straight up to level of %AbV shown on left of table and read off number of units at that point. Where no value is given, it may be estimated from those around. Figures printed in bold are exact. All others have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

1 pint = 568 mL 5 UK Units for Volumes 0 – 750 mL & AbV 0 – 16%

For finding the number of units of alcohol in a volume of liquid whose %AbV is known.

16 11 Units 10 Units 15 9 Units

14 8 Units

13 7 Units

12 6 Units

11 5 Units

10 4 Units

9 3 Units

8 2 Units 7

6

1 Unit

% Alcohol by Volume AbV % Alcohol by Volume 5

4 Beers and CidersWines White Red Wines 3

2

1

millilitres mL 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 750 centilitres cL 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 75 litres → L 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 |||||| → 1 1 3 1 pints 4 2 4 1 14 (1 gill) (2 gills) (3 gills) (4 gills) (5 gills) ||| || || ||| || || fluid ounces → 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 Volume To use: First find two places: the required volume on one of the bottom scales and the %AbV on the side scale. Next go straight up and across respectively from these two places to meet at a point on the grid. From this point, go to the nearest red ‘curve’and read off the number of units. (Spoilt for choice? Take the higher number.) 6 Units for Volumes 750 – 1500 mL & AbV 0 – 16% UK

16 22 Units23 21 Units 15 20 Units 19 Units 14 18 Units 17 Units 13 16 Units 15 Units 12 14 Units 13 Units 11 12 Units 10 % Alcohol by Volume AbV 11 Units 10 Units 9 9 Units 8 8 Units 7 Units 7 6 Units 6 5 Units 5 4 Units 4 3 Units 3 2 Units 2 1 Unit 1

750 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 mL millilitres 75 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 cL centilitres 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25 1.3 1.35 1.4 1.45 1.5 L litres || ||| 1 3 1 1 12 14 2 2 4 2 2 pints Volume

7 UK Units for Volumes 0 – 750 mL & AbV 16 – 40%

For finding the number of units of alcohol in a volume of liquid whose %AbV is known.

40 28 Units

26 Units Liquers

38 24 Units

22 Units 36 20 Units

18 Units 34

16 Units

32 14 Units

12 Units 30

10 Units 28

8 Units

26

6 Units

% Alcohol by Volume AbV % Alcohol by Volume 24

4 Units

22

2 Units 20

1 Unit Sherries & Ports& Spirits 18

16 millilitres mL 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 750 centilitres cL 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 75 litres → L 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 |||||| → 1 1 3 1 pints 4 2 4 1 14 (1 gill) (2 gills) (3 gills) (4 gills) (5 gills) ||| || || ||| || || fluid ounces → 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 Volume 8 Units for Volumes 750 – 1500 mL & AbV 16 – 40% UK

58 40 56 Units

54 Units

52 Units 38

50 Units

48 Units 36 46 Units

44 Units

42 Units 34

40 Units % Alcohol by Volume AbV 38 Units 32

36 Units

34 Units 30 32 Units

30 Units 28 28 Units

26 Units 26

24 Units

22 Units 24

20 Units 22 18 Units

16 Units 20

14 Units 18

16 750 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 mL millilitres 75 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 cL centilitres 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25 1.3 1.35 1.4 1.45 1.5 L litres || ||| 1 3 1 1 12 14 2 2 4 2 2 pints Volume

9 UK Proof and %AbV Scales for converting between proof and %AbV

%AbV Proof %AbV Proof 40 –70 80 –140 –68 –138 38 –66 78 –136 –64 –134 36 76 –62 –132 34 –60 74 –130 –58 –128 32 –56 72 –126 –54 –124 30 –52 70 –122 –50 –120 28 68 –48 –118 26 –46 66 –116 –44 –114 24 –42 64 –112 –40 –110 22 –38 62 –108 –36 –106 20 60 –34 –104 18 –32 58 –102 –30 –100 16 –28 56 –98 –26 –96 14 –24 54 –94 –22 –92 12 –20 52 –90 10 –18 50 –88 –16 –86 8 –14 48 –84 –12 –82 6 –10 46 –80 –8 –78 4 –6 44 –76 2 –4 42 –74 –2 –72 0 –0 40 –70

The connection between %AbV and proof was defined by an Act of Parliament in 1816 which in effect, but not in words, was equivalent to saying 100% proof = 57.06 %AbV from which it follows that proof = %AbV ÷ 0.5706 %AbV = proof × 0.5706

10 UK Units and Calories Scales for converting between them Units Calories kJ

20 –1100 –4600 – – Alcohol is a fuel, just like petrol or coal but, unlike most 19 –1050 –4400 fuels, alcohol is also digestible by the human body. This – – means that the energy in alcohol (in the form of carbon 18 –1000 –4200 and hydrogen) is metabolized and taken into our system. – – It is easy to measure the amount of energy in the alcohol. –950 –4000 It is a little over 17 – – 55 Calories (or 230 kJ) in a Unit –900 –3800 – (or in every 10 mL of alcohol) 16 – – –850 3600 The scales on the right make it easy to see the number of – Calories (or kilojoules) there are in any quantity of Units 15 – –3400 up to 20. Bigger numbers than that can easily be dealt –800 – with by addition or multiplication. – 14 –3200 – However, it should be noted that we do not know if these 750 – – calories count in the usual way towards our diet. Some 13 –3000 research has reported that drinking in moderation (that is –700 – within the accepted guidelines) has no appreciable effect – 12 –2800 on body-mass. But that only applies to wine and spirits –650 – which have almost no calories other than what is in the – –2600 alcohol. 11 –600 – BEER, and similar drinks, are a different matter. In that – –2400 case the beverage itself has a definite calorie content apart 10 –550 – from that of the alcohol. Unfortunately, it is not a regular – –2200 amount and so cannot be forecast, since it depends heavily 9 –500 – on how the beer was made. Finding exactly what the – –2000 calorie content is requires a full analysis of the actual beer. – – 8 450 To give some idea of how much it can vary, one survey of – –1800 over one hundred beers found between 20 and 90 Calories –400 – per 100 mL sample from each beer. That did include the 7 – –1600 calories from the alcohol which (by estimation) ranged –350 – from about 5 to 20 Calories. But there was no relationship 6 – –1400 between the alcohol content and the total calorie content – –300 of the beer. – – 1200 5 – –250 –1000 – 4 – – 200 –800 – 3 – –150 –600 – – 2 –100 –400 – – 1 –50 –200 – – 0 –0 –0

11 Table shows number of units of alcohol for a given volume and %AbV 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 19 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 The Pocket 17 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Guide to 16 4 7 8 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 15 368 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Units of 14 5 7 9 10 1112131314 Alcohol 13 2 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 A handy table 12 3 5 6 78 9 10 10 11 11 12 for estimating 11 4 5 6 788 9910 11 alcohol content 10 12345678910 10 (U K only) 9 3 4 5 667 78899 8 2455 6 7788 7 1 2 33 44 55 66677 6 2 3 44 55566 A much fuller account of all this, 5 123 3 344 455 together with details of the measures

%Alcohol by Volume ~ %AbV (1 - 20) %AbV (1 ~ Volume by %Alcohol used in other countries, and a set of 4 1 2 2 233 3444 on-screen calculators to handle all 3 11 2222 3333 the calculations can be found on the 2 111 111 22222 Web at www.ex.ac.uk/trol/scol/alcohol 1 11 11111 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000 Volume in millilitres ~ mL To use: find volume (in mL) at bottom of table and, from there, go straight up to level of %AbV shown on left of table and read off number of units at that point. Where no value is given, it may be estimated from those around. Figures printed in bold are exact. All others have been rounded to the nearest whole number. © Frank Tapson 2004 1 pint = 568 mL

To make: print (or copy) this and the following page back to back on a single sheet of paper or light card. As a check on alignment the positions of the two A’s should match (to within 2 mm. will do).

Cut around the marked outer rectangle. A Score along the three lines running across the rectangle. Crease and fold along these lines. The dashed lines should be ‘hill folds’, that is the line is on the outside of the fold. The plain lines should be ‘valley folds’, that is the line is on the inside of the fold. The whole thing, stood upright, and looked down on, should like the diagram on the right. %Alcohol by Volume ~ %AbV (20 - 40) 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01010202030304040505060607070808090901000 950 900 850 800 750 700 650 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 01 21 41 61 81 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 For detailsaboutuseandaccuracy, seeotherside. 691215 9 36 1821 242730 11 51 92 22 426 24 23 22 20 19 16 15 12 11 8 1820 2325 2830314 15 10 5 510 71421

Table showsnumberof

6 7148 9 A 11 52 42 83 335 33 30 28 26 24 22 15 13 11 41 61 122 21 17 16 15 14 8 7 01 61 02 32 628 26 25 23 22 20 19 16 13 10 12 11 72 22 52 829 28 26 25 23 22 20 17 14 11 9 13 910 Volume inmillilitres~mL 16 17 11 units ofalcohol 12 13 16 17 18 19 11 12 23 36 34 32 25 20 23 21 21 41 92 22 20 19 18 17 14 13 12 13 14 15 921 19 718 17 foragivenvolumeand%AbV 22 72 132 31 29 27 37 26 24 35 22 33 23 31 29 27 25 71 12 325 23 22 21 19 18 16 17 51 71 921 19 18 17 16 15 24 27 18 21 28 20 62 930 29 27 26 34 32 31 29 92 223 22 20 19 124 21 27 25 24 33 30 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 The Pocket alcohol content A handytable for estimating Guide to Units of Alcohol (U Konly)