What is sensible drinking?
Most people who drink take amounts that are not likely to cause them any harm but alcohol is a drug like any other drug and drinking too much can sometimes lead to problems. Check the chart below to find out how many units of alcohol are in your drink. The basic rule is one unit equals a half pint of beer.
| 1 pub measure of sprits (whisky, gin, vodka) | 1 unit |
| 1 glass of fortified wine (sherry, martini, port) | 1 unit |
| 1 glass of table wine | 1 unit |
| 1 glass or can or alcopop (Bacardi Breezer, Archers Aqua, WKD) | 2 units |
| 1 pint of low alcohol beer | half unit |
| 1 pint of beer | 2 units |
| 1 can of beer | 1 and half units |
| 1 bottle of super or special lager | 2 and half units |
| 1 pint of Guiness, real ale or strong lager | 3 units |
| 1 can or super or special lager | 4 units |
| 1 bottle table wine | 7 units |
| 1 bottle of fortified wine (sherry, martini, port) | 14 units |
| 1 bottle of spirits (whisky, gin, vodka) | 30 units |
For men, a reasonable amount is no more than 21 units of alcohol a week. This means you can have 4 units in one day.
For women, the reasonable amount is no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. This means you can have 3 units in one day.
Pregnant Women - If you have one or two drinks of alcohol (one or 2 units), once or twice a week, the chances are it won't harm your unborn baby. The exact amount that is safe is unknown. So many women have little or no alcohol when they are pregnant.
