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Moderate Drinking Calculator

Based on a daily pure-alcohol target, estimate a reasonable amount (ml) of beer, wine, sake, shochu, highball, and whisky. Includes a lighter setting for women and older adults plus alcohol-free-day guidance.

Input

Using the common moderate-drinking guideline of about 20 g of pure alcohol per day, this tool estimates a reasonable amount for each type of drink. Individual differences in body type and condition are large, so treat the results as a rough reference.

g
Drinker type

Based on the common moderate-drinking guideline of about 20 g of pure alcohol per day.

Result

Daily pure-alcohol target

20g

The amounts of each drink that stay within this limit are shown below.

Beer (5%)

approx. 500 ml

Chu-hi / highball (7%)

approx. 357 ml

Wine (12%)

approx. 208 ml

Reasonable amount by drink type (equivalent to 20 g of pure alcohol)

Drink typeABVReasonable amount
Beer1 medium bottle = 500 ml5%approx. 500 ml
Chu-hi / highball1 can = 350 ml7%approx. 357 ml
Wine1 glass = 120 ml12%approx. 208 ml
Sake1 go = 180 ml15%approx. 167 ml
Shochuhalf a cup = 100 ml25%approx. 100 ml
Whiskysingle = 30 ml43%approx. 58 ml

Take alcohol-free days

Drinking every day leaves no time for your liver to recover. It is recommended to set aside about two alcohol-free days per week. The amounts shown are not a recommendation to drink that much; they are an upper limit to stay under.

How it works

  • Calculates the amount (ml) of each drink that matches a daily average of about 20 g of pure alcohol, a figure often cited as a moderate-drinking guideline. You can freely change this target in the input field.
  • Pure alcohol (g) is calculated as volume (ml) x ABV (%) / 100 x 0.8, where 0.8 is the specific gravity of ethanol. Conversely, the target amount of pure alcohol is converted back into a volume (ml) for each ABV.
  • Low-risk drinking guidelines and standard-drink sizes vary considerably from country to country, so this tool's defaults are only one common reference. Check the official guidance for your own country.
  • The ABV shown for each drink type is a general approximation: beer 5%, chu-hi/highball 7%, wine 12%, sake 15%, shochu 25%, and whisky 43%. The reasonable amount changes with the actual ABV of the product you drink.
  • Women, older adults, and people who tolerate alcohol poorly tend to metabolize alcohol more slowly, so a lighter setting (about 10 g/day) is also provided. Individual differences in body type and condition are very large.
  • The amounts shown are not a recommendation to drink that much; they are an upper limit to stay under. To rest the liver, about two alcohol-free days per week are recommended.
  • These figures are a simplified reference based on general indicators and are not a diagnosis or medical advice. Drinking alcohol carries health risks. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a medical condition, as well as minors, should avoid alcohol, and any health decisions should be discussed with a doctor or other professional.