Standard drinks guide

Standard drinks are a way to keep track of how much alcohol you're really drinking. To find out how many standard drinks you're having, check your drink label. You can also use our handy guide, try a standard drinks calculator or ask staff.

What are standard drinks?

Standard drinks are a way to measure how much alcohol you drink.

Drinks come in different sizes and some are stronger than others. They have different amounts of alcohol in them.

A standard drink is always equal to 10 g of pure alcohol.

How many standard drinks are you having?

Find out the approximate number of standard drinks in different serves of alcohol.

Beer

Small glass of beer

Full strength beer
285ml 4.8%

1.1

standard drinks

Mid strength beer
285ml 3.5%

0.8

standard drinks

Low strength beer
285ml 2.7%

0.6

standard drinks

Large glass of beer

Full strength beer
425ml 4.8%

1.6

standard drinks

Mid strength beer
425ml 3.5%

1.2

standard drinks

Low strength beer
425ml 2.7%

0.9

standard drinks

Bottles and cans of beer

Full strength beer
375ml 4.8%

1.4

standard drinks

Mid strength beer
375ml 3.5%

1.0

standard drinks

Low strength beer
375ml 2.7%

0.8

standard drinks

Full strength beer
375ml 4.8%

1.4

standard drinks

Mid strength beer
375ml 3.5%

1.0

standard drinks

Low strength beer
375ml 2.7%

0.8

standard drinks

Case of beer

Full strength
24 x 375ml 4.8%

34

standard drinks

Mid strength
24 x 375ml 3.5%

24

standard drinks

Low strength
24 x 375ml) 2.7%

19

standard drinks

Wine

Red wine and port

Average restaurant serving of red wine
150ml 13.5%

1.6

standard drinks

Standard serve of red wine
100ml 13.5%

1.0

standard drinks

Bottle of red wine
750ml 13.5%

8

standard drinks

Cask of red wine
4 litres 13.5%

43

standard drinks

Cask of red wine
2 litres 13.5%

21

standard drinks

Standard serve of port
60ml 17.5%

0.9

standard drinks

Cask of port
2 litres 17.5%

28

standard drinks

White wine

Average restaurant serving of white wine
150ml 11.5%

1.4

standard drinks

Standard serve of white wine
100ml 11.5%

0.9

standard drinks

Bottle of white wine
750ml 11.5%

6.8

standard drinks

Cask of white wine
4 litres 11.5%

36

standard drinks

Cask of white wine
2 litres 11.5%

18

standard drinks

Champagne

Average restaurant serve of champagne
150ml 12%

1.4

standard drinks

Bottle of champagne
750ml 12%

7.1

standard drinks

Spirits

Straight spirits

High strength
30ml 40%

1.0

standard drink

High strength bottle
700ml 40%

22

standard drink

Ready to drink spirits

Full strength
275ml 5.0% 

1.1

standard drinks

Full strength
330ml 5.0% 

1.2

standard drinks

Full strength
660ml 5.0%

2.6

standard drinks

High strength
275ml 7.0%

1.5

standard drinks

High strength
330ml 7.0%

1.8

standard drinks

High strength
660ml 7.0%

3.6

standard drinks

Pre-mixed spirits

Full strength
250ml 5.0%

1.0

standard drink

Full strength
300ml 5.0%

1.2

standard drinks

Full strength
375ml 5.0%

1.5

standard drinks

Full strength
440ml 5.0%

1.7

standard drinks

High strength
250ml 7.0% - 10%

1.4 - 1.9

standard drinks

High strength
300ml 7.0%

1.6

standard drinks

High strength
375ml 7.0%

2.1

standard drinks

High strength
440ml 7.0%

2.4

standard drinks

Why count standard drinks?

Counting standard drinks can help you to drink as safely as possible.

You can compare your drinking against the Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol, which are based on standard drinks.

Other ways to check standard drinks

  • Read your drink label — all containers of alcohol in Australia must show the number of standard drinks they contain
  • Use an online calculator — there are a few available, including the Drinks Calculator and the Standard Drink Calculator
  • Ask the bar or restaurant staff — they can usually tell you about the drinks they serve.

Be careful if you’re drinking home brew or any other alcohol that isn’t labelled. If you don’t know the concentration of alcohol, you won’t be able to work out the number of standard drinks you're having.

Date last updated:
Tags: 

Help us improve health.gov.au

If you would like a response please use the enquiries form instead.