First, a unit of alcohol is a weird little measurement. In the UK, one unit is exactly 10 milliliters of pure alcohol. Sounds simple, right? It isn’t.
A standard 750ml bottle of wine usually sits around 12% to 14% alcohol by volume. Do the quick math (or trust me, I did it for you): that’s about 10 units for a 13% bottle. Yes, ten. Your one glass is roughly 2.5 units—good luck stopping there.
Why does nobody tell you this? Probably because we’d all stare at our empty glasses in horror. “I only had two glasses!” you’ll say. That’s half the bottle—and five units.
But Wait, the Wine Isn’t All the Same
Here’s the tricky bit: wine strength varies like personalities at a party. A light Italian Pinot Grigio at 11%? That bottle is about 8 units. A big, jammy California Zinfandel at 15%? Boom—11.5 units.
Ever had a sweet Moscato that feels like juice? It’s usually lower—around 8%—so only 6 units per bottle. But you’ll drink it faster because it’s basically candy. Life is unfair that way.
Pro tip: check the label. Look for the ABV (Alcohol By Volume). That little number is your only friend in this math quiz. The rest is winging it.
