How standard drinks are defined
| Definition | Pure alcohol per drink |
|---|---|
| WHO (AUDIT screening test) | 10 g |
| United States (NIAAA) | 14 g |
| United Kingdom (1 unit) | 8 g |
| Australia | 10 g |
India has no official standard drink. Our calculator uses the US definition of about 14 g per drink.
Alcohol in common Indian servings
| Drink | Volume | Pure alcohol | US standard drinks (14 g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small peg of whisky, rum or vodka (42.8%) | 30 ml | 10.1 g | 0.7 |
| Large peg (42.8%) | 60 ml | 20.3 g | 1.4 |
| Beer can, regular (5%) | 330 ml | 13.0 g | 0.9 |
| Beer pint, regular (5%) | 500 ml | 19.7 g | 1.4 |
| Beer bottle, regular (5%) | 650 ml | 25.6 g | 1.8 |
| Beer bottle, strong (8%) | 650 ml | 41.0 g | 2.9 |
| Glass of wine (12%) | 150 ml | 14.2 g | 1.0 |
Grams of alcohol = volume (ml) × ABV ÷ 100 × 0.789, where 0.789 g/ml is the density of ethanol. Check the label: ABV varies by brand, and strong beers in India are often 7–8%.
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Open the BAC CalculatorFrequently asked questions
How much alcohol is in a 650 ml strong beer?
About 41 g at 8% ABV, roughly three US standard drinks.
Is one peg one standard drink?
A 30 ml peg at 42.8% has about 10 g, close to the WHO definition of 10 g but less than the US 14 g.
Sources
- What is a standard drink? (US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- Standard drink definitions by country (Wikipedia overview)
More guides
Written and reviewed by the editorial team at Evavel Private Limited. Found an error? Email care@calculations.one.