LastGlassAlcohol units
How many units in a pint of beer?
A pint of beer, lager or cider has between 2 and 3 UK units for most drinks, depending on strength. A 4% pint has 2.3 units and a 5.2% pint has 3. Here are the figures for every common strength, size and container.
Updated 1 November 2026 · 4-minute read · VANTH Studio, The Netherlands
Short answer: a UK pint (568 ml) of 4% beer has about 2.3 units. The NHS puts a pint of lower-strength lager, beer or cider (3.6%) at 2 units and a pint of higher-strength (5.2%) at 3 units. Strong craft beers and ciders can reach 4 units a pint or more.
Units in a pint, by strength
The same table works for beer, lager, ale, stout and cider. Only the strength (ABV) matters.
| Strength (ABV) | Units per pint | Units per half pint |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5% (alcohol-free) | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 3.6% | 2 | 1 |
| 4% | 2.3 | 1.1 |
| 4.5% | 2.6 | 1.3 |
| 5% | 2.8 | 1.4 |
| 5.2% | 3 | 1.5 |
| 6% | 3.4 | 1.7 |
| 7% | 4 | 2 |
The ABV is on the tap badge, can or bottle. If you are not sure, ask bar staff.
Cans and bottles
| Drink | UK units |
|---|---|
| Bottle of beer or cider (330 ml, 5%) | 1.7 |
| Can of beer or cider (440 ml, 4%) | 1.8 |
| Can of beer or cider (440 ml, 5.5%) | 2.4 |
| US pint (16 fl oz, 473 ml, 5%) | 2.4 |
| US can (12 fl oz, 355 ml, 5%) | 1.8 |
Note that a US pint is smaller than a UK pint: 473 ml instead of 568 ml.
How to work it out for any beer
The NHS formula is: strength (ABV %) × volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = units.
For a pint of 4.6% ale: 4.6 × 568 ÷ 1,000 = 2.6 units. For a 330 ml bottle of 8% craft IPA: 8 × 330 ÷ 1,000 = 2.6 units, as much as a pint of ordinary beer. One UK unit is 10 ml or 8 g of pure alcohol.
The alcohol units calculator works out any drink, and your weekly total.
Standard drinks in the US and Australia
- US: one standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol, the amount in a 12 fl oz can of 5% beer. A UK pint of 5% beer is about 1.6 US standard drinks.
- Australia and New Zealand: one standard drink is 10 g of pure alcohol, so a UK pint of 5% beer is about 2.2 standard drinks.
How many pints is the weekly guideline?
The NHS advises men and women not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, which it compares to about 6 pints of average-strength beer. With stronger 5% lager it is about 5 pints. If you drink as much as 14 units a week, spread it over three or more days, and have several drink-free days each week if you want to cut down. The World Health Organization says no level of drinking is safe for health, so less is better.
Swapping some pints for alcohol-free beer is one of the easiest ways to cut down without changing your evening. More ideas are in how to cut back on alcohol.
Keeping track with LastGlass
Rounds make pints easy to lose count of. In LastGlass, a one-minute daily check-in records whether you drank and how much, and Drinks and units in Settings shows it in UK units or your country's standard drinks. Choose a drink less goal or alcohol-free days, see your week on the calendar, and add risky times such as Friday after work, with a plan for each. The core app is free; no account needed.
If you drink heavily or get shaking, sweating or anxiety when you stop, talk to a doctor before cutting down suddenly.
Frequently asked questions
How many units are in a pint of lager?
A pint (568 ml) of lower-strength lager at 3.6% has 2 units, and a higher-strength lager at 5.2% has 3 units, according to the NHS. A typical 4% to 5% lager is 2.3 to 2.8 units.
How many units are in a pint of cider?
The same as beer at the same strength. A 4.5% pint of cider has about 2.6 units, and a strong 7% cider about 4 units, so check the ABV on the tap or can.
How many pints is 14 units?
About 6 pints of average-strength (4%) beer, the NHS comparison. At 5% it is about 5 pints, and at 5.2% fewer than 5. The NHS advises spreading drinking over three or more days rather than having it in one session.
How many units in a can of beer?
A 440 ml can at 5.5% has 2.4 units, and a 330 ml bottle at 5% has 1.7 units, per the NHS. A 440 ml can at 4% has about 1.8 units.
Does alcohol-free beer have units?
Very few. A pint of 0.5% beer has about 0.3 units. Beers labelled 0.0% have essentially none. Check the label, because some low-alcohol beers are 1% or more.
Sources
- NHS: Alcohol units
- NIAAA: What is a standard drink?
- Australian Government: Standard drinks guide
- WHO Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health
Sources checked 2026-11-01. This guide is general information, not personal medical advice. Guidelines differ by country.