Standard Drink Calculator

A US standard drink contains 14 g of pure alcohol. See how many a beverage equals.

How the Math Works

The Standard Drink Calculator uses a formula that converts a drink's volume and alcohol content into grams of pure alcohol. The equation is: alcohol(g) = volume (in milliliters) × ABV% (expressed as a decimal) × 0.789. The 0.789 factor represents the density of ethanol in grams per milliliter. Dividing the result by 14 grams (the US standard for one standard drink) gives the number of standard drinks consumed. For example, a 355ml beer at 5% ABV yields 14 grams of alcohol (355 × 0.05 × 0.789 ≈ 14g), equaling one standard drink.

Practical Applications

To use this calculator, input the drink's total volume (e.g., 750ml for wine) and its ABV percentage (e.g., 12% for wine). The tool multiplies these values by 0.789 to determine the total grams of alcohol, then divides by 14g to show standard drinks. This helps track consumption for health goals, comply with legal drinking limits, or compare alcohol content across different beverages like cocktails, beer, or spirits.

Day-to-Day Use

This tool simplifies responsible drinking by quantifying alcohol intake in standardized units. It aids in managing health conditions like liver disease, monitoring recovery programs, or adhering to medical advice. For instance, knowing a large 16oz beer equals 2.5 standard drinks helps users make informed choices. It also clarifies legal intoxication thresholds (e.g., 0.08% BAC) by linking drinks to body weight and consumption rate, promoting safer decisions in social or work settings.

Worked example

355 ml beer at 5% → ~1.0 standard drink.

FAQ