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 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.