Cocktail Alcohol Units Calculator

When watching your alcohol intake it can be a bit tricky to work out the alcohol in a cocktails due to their many ingredients.

Using this calculator quickly work out the amount of alcohol, and number of units, a cocktail contains by adding different ingredients with their respective percentages and volumes.

Ingredient Name:

Percentage (%):

Volume (ml):

Alcohol (ml):

Units:

Total Alcohol (ml):

Total Units:

Alcohol Units Formula

For each ingredient the amount of alcohol contained is calculated by multiplying the percentage of alcohol (using a percentage value expressed as a decimal - a value between 0 and 1) with the volume measure in millilitres. This is then divided by 10 to give the amount in units.

$Alcohol (in ml) = Percent (as decimal) \times Volume (in ml)$

$Alcohol Units = Alcohol (in ml) / 10 (ml per unit)$

Example

To make a classic Manhattan: Two measures (50ml) of whisky (40%), one measure (25ml) of sweet vermouth (18%) and a dash of bitters (which is ignored due to the tiny volume).

$24.5 ml alcohol = 50 ml \times 0.4 + 25 ml \times 0.18$

$2.45 Units = 24.5 ml / 10 (ml per unit)$

Background

In today's world, where socializing often revolves around drinks it's easy for our alcohol consumption to creep up without us even realising it. With concerns over health and safety, understanding just how much alcohol we're consuming has become increasingly important.

In many countries, including the UK where the NHS (National Health Service) provides guidelines, alcohol is measured in units. One unit is equivalent to 10 milliliters or 8 grams of pure alcohol. The idea is to provide a standard measure that allows individuals to gauge how much alcohol they're consuming regardless of the type of beverage.

Many health organizations, including the NHS, provide guidelines on safe alcohol consumption. For instance, in the UK, it's recommended that both men and women do not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spreading consumption evenly over several days. This advice is not just about avoiding short-term risks like intoxication; it's also aimed at reducing the risk of long-term health issues such as liver disease, certain cancers, and heart problems.