What is a unit of alcohol?
According to the NHS, one unit of alcohol is equivalent to 10ml of pure alcohol. In terms of standard drinks measurements, there are approximately:
- 2 units in one pint of low strength beer or cider (3.6%)
- 3 units in one pint of high strength beer or cider (5.2%)
- 2.1 units in one 175ml glass of average strength wine (12%)
- 3 units in one 250ml glass of average strength wine (12%)
- 1 unit in a single measure of spirit (25ml)
Other factors
However, this is not an exact science and many other factors can affect how quickly or slowly your body breaks down alcohol. These include:
- Weight
- Gender
- Age
- Metabolism
- Stress levels
- Medication you may be taking
- Type and strength of the alcohol consumed
For more information about how long alcohol stays in the system, click here.
