Last Orders • Lesson Two

Alcohol Strengths and Units

What is a unit of alcohol?

• A unit of alcohol is equivalent to:

- Half a pint of beer/lager/cider 3.5% ABV.- One small glass of wine – 125mls 9%

ABV.- One single spirits (pub measure) 40%

ABV.

What is Alcohol?

• Alcoholic drinks consist mainly of flavoured water and ethyl alcohol (ethanol)

• They are made by fermentation of fruits, vegetables or grains.

• Ethyl alcohol on it’s own is a poison, so it is diluted in alcoholic drinks to make it safer to drink.

1.2 units 275 mls

One bottle of Smirnoff Ice - 4.5%ABV

How many units?

One 125mls glass of wine -9%ABV

How many units?

1 Unit

One single pub measure of spirits - 40% ABV

How many units? 1 Unit

One 568 mls can of Stella Lager – 5.2% ABV

How many units? 3.0 Units

One 275 mls bottle of Bacardi Breezer - 4%ABV

How many units?

1.1 Units

One 588 mls can Fosters Lager - 4% ABV

How many units?

2.3 Units

One half pint of beer or lager - 3.5%ABV

How many units?

1 Unit

One 750 mls bottle of wine - 14%ABV

How many units?

10 Units

One 2 litres bottle of Diamond

White - 7.5%ABV

How many units?

15 Units

One 25mls ‘shot’ - 40%ABV

How many units?

1 Unit

One litre of Vodka - 37.5%ABV

How many units?

37.5 Units

One 750mls of Lambrini - 7.5%ABV

How many units? 5.7 Units

It is the strength and size of the drink that determines how many units it has. It is not as simple as one drink = one unit

Safer Drinking Limits

• There is no safer drinking limit for under 18 year olds as their livers and brains are still developing

• The healthiest choice for young people is not to drink any alcohol before 15 years, then only at low levels.

Safer drinking limits for Adults

• Men should not regularly drink more than 3 to 4 units a day

• Women not more than 2 to 3 units a day

• Regularly drinking over this can lead to long term liver and brain damage and other related health risks