Standard Drink Calculator
Any pour and ABV to standard drinks and grams.
What it does
Glasses lie about alcohol: a pint of strong IPA doubles a light lager, and a generous wine pour quietly becomes two drinks. Standard-drink math converts any pour and strength into honest equivalents.
The tool above multiplies volume by ABV over the 0.6-ounce (14-gram) standard and prints drinks plus grams. Imperial mode takes ounces; metric mode takes milliliters with the same result.
NIAAA defines the US standard drink with those three classic equivalents, and CDC alcohol guidance uses the same counting for moderation tracking. Grams bridge beer, wine, and spirits into one comparable number.
Count to pace, not to impress. Log every pour through the night, space with water and food, and fix rides before the first sip. Anyone pregnant, driving, or underage should skip entirely.
How to use
- Pick imperial (oz) or metric (mL).
- Enter the pour volume.
- Enter ABV percent from the label.
- Read standard drinks and grams.
- Count every drink through the night.
- Plan rides before drinking.
Formula
- volume
- Pour volume in oz (mL metric).
- ABV
- Alcohol by volume percent.
Volume runs in fluid ounces (milliliters convert at 29.5735 per ounce) with ABV as percent. The 0.6 oz (14 g) standard matches US dietary guidelines; other countries define 8 to 14 g per unit.
Worked example
Example: 12 oz beer at 5 %
One 12 oz regular beer at 5 %.
- 12 oz beer at 5 % ABV.
- Alcohol: 12 x 5 / 100 = 0.6 oz.
- Drinks: 0.6 / 0.6 = 1 drink.
- Grams: 1 x 14 = 14 g.
- Count every drink and space with water.
Reference table
| Pour | ABV | Drinks |
|---|---|---|
| 12 oz beer | 5 % | 1 |
| 5 oz wine | 12 % | 1 |
| 1.5 oz spirits | 40 % | 1 |
| 16 oz pint | 7 % | 1.9 |
| 750 mL wine bottle | 13 % | 5.5 |
Limits
- Counts alcohol, not impairment or BAC.
- Home pours and ABV guesses vary.
- Guidelines differ by country and health.
- No safe level for pregnancy or driving.
Common mistakes
- Calling every glass one drink.
- Ignoring high ABV craft pours.
- Forgetting wine bottle totals.
- Counting after drinking, not during.
- Driving on counted drinks.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
5 oz wine at 12 %?
Alcohol is 5 x 12 / 100 = 0.6 oz. That is 1 drink and 14 g.
750 mL bottle at 13 %?
Volume is 750 / 29.5735 = 25.36 oz. Alcohol is 25.36 x 13 / 100 = 3.30 oz. That is 5.5 drinks and 77 g.
Questions
What is a standard drink?
Ethanol volume over 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams): a 12 oz beer at 5 %, 5 oz wine at 12 %, or 1.5 oz spirits at 40 % each equal one. Same alcohol, different glass.
How do I count wine pours?
Volume times ABV over 0.6: a 5 oz pour of 12 % wine is 1.0, while a 750 mL bottle of 13 % holds about 5.5. Big glasses and strong pours hide multiples.
Is one glass always one drink?
No. Craft pints at 7 % pour 1.4 drinks, doubles pour 2, and Long Islands stack several. ABV and ounces both move the count.
How many grams per drink?
About 14 grams of pure alcohol, the figure guidelines and labels use. Grams let heavy pours compare across beer, wine, and spirits.
What are low-risk limits?
Daily and weekly low-risk caps differ by country and sex, and less is always safer. Count honestly for a week; most people pour more than they claim.
How do I pace a night out?
Never drive, space with water and food, skip rounds when behind, and plan rides before starting. Counting only works with a plan attached.