The CalorieKing Alcohol Guide

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How to calculate standard drinks

It's important to keep track of the amount of alcohol you are consuming so you can stay within the recommended safe levels. Counting the number of standard drinks is a much more reliable way to measure your alcohol intake than counting glasses, bottles, or cans, as these can vary in size considerably.

In Australia, all labeled drinks are required to state the number of standard drinks they contain. If a drink has no label, restaurant or bar staff can help identify how many standard drinks are contained in the drink you have ordered.

The amount of standard drinks can be calculated as follows:

*The specific gravity of ethyl alcohol is 0.789

For example: For one stubbie (375 ml) of full strength beer (5% alcohol by volume):

Ten hints to avoid harmful drinking

1. Add up the alcohol you typically drink each day and on social occasions. Are you drinking within the low-risk limits? If not, plan a strategy to cut down on your drinking.
2. Compare the alcohol content of different drinks and select those with lower content. Request half measures of alcohol in cocktails and mixed drinks. Dilute them and keep topping up with non-alcoholic drinks.
3. Try low alcohol or non-alcohol alternatives (e.g. fruit juices, diet soda, and mineral water). Take your own to parties.
4. Before drinking alcohol, quench your thirst on water and non-alcoholic drinks - particularly after sport or physical activity.
5. Drink slowly. Chugging or drinking fast is the major cause of illness and death from alcohol poisoning.
6. Avoid drinking in “rounds”. Drink at your own pace.
7. Have a non-alcoholic "spacer" between drinks (e.g. mineral water, diet soda, orange juice).
8. Don't drink on an empty stomach. Food slows the rate of alcohol absorption.
9. Keep track of the number of drinks you have and know when to stop. Set a limit before you start drinking and stick to it.
10. Do not drive, swim, or operate machinery after drinking alcohol.

Related articles :

• Alcohol - How much are you drinking?

Related links :

• Australian Alcohol Guidelines
• Guidelines for avoiding drink driving
• Portion Watch - Alcoholic Drinks

Last updated: July 27th, 2006