Last Orders •Lesson Two Alcohol Strengths and Units
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