First, let’s ditch the complicated chemistry and think in units. In the UK, one unit of alcohol is exactly 10 milliliters (or 8 grams) of pure ethanol. Think of a unit as a tiny, invisible cube of pure spirit—that’s the stuff that actually affects your head.
So, how many of these invisible cubes are in your average pint? It depends entirely on what you’re drinking. A standard pint of lager or beer (around 4.5% ABV) usually contains just over two and a half units.
But here’s where it gets sneaky. A pint of strong craft IPA at 6.5% ABV? That’s nearly four units in a single glass. See how that number climbs?
Pint vs. Wine: The Great Comparison
Let’s play a game. Pour a standard 175ml glass of wine (around 13% ABV). That glass holds roughly 2.3 units of alcohol. Now pour a pint of your average 4.5% beer. That pint holds about 2.5 units.
Did you catch that? They’re nearly identical. One pint of lager is roughly the same pure alcohol content as one medium glass of wine. Next time someone says “beer is lighter,” you can politely raise an eyebrow.