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Beer cans and bottles by volume and ABV
Supermarket multipacks in the UK usually sell 440 ml cans or 330 ml bottles. Continental imports and tallboy cans are 500 ml:
| Format & volume | ABV | UK units | FR verres (10 g) | US drinks (14 g) | Pure alcohol | Ethanol kcal | % of UK week (14) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small bottle / can (330 ml) | 4.0% | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 10.4 g | 74 kcal | 9.4% |
| Small bottle / can (330 ml) | 5.0% | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 13.0 g | 92 kcal | 11.8% |
| Standard UK can (440 ml) | 4.0% | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 13.9 g | 99 kcal | 12.6% |
| Standard UK can (440 ml) | 4.5% | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 15.6 g | 111 kcal | 14.1% |
| Standard UK can (440 ml) | 5.0% | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 17.4 g | 123 kcal | 15.7% |
| Tallboy / European can (500 ml) | 4.5% | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 17.8 g | 126 kcal | 16.1% |
| Tallboy / European can (500 ml) | 5.0% | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 19.7 g | 140 kcal | 17.9% |
Check non-standard cans with the alcohol unit calculator. Pub measurements: see how many units in a pint of lager (568 ml).
Alcohol clearance: how long to process a can of beer?
The human liver eliminates alcohol at an average physiological rate of approximately 1 UK unit (8 g of pure ethanol) per hour:
- Absorption window: 30 to 45 minutes for gastrointestinal absorption into the bloodstream.
- Small 330 ml can/bottle at 5% (1.7 units): Typically cleared in roughly 2 to 2.5 hours.
- Standard 440 ml UK can at 4.5% (2.0 units): Takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Tallboy 500 ml can at 5% (2.5 units): Requires around 3 to 3.5 hours.
Biological notice: Drinking water or taking cold showers does not accelerate liver metabolism. These estimates are designed to inform your evening rest and next-day schedule, not to gauge driving legality.
Can calories: ethanol vs residual carbohydrates
A beer can combines energy from pure alcohol and brewing carbohydrates:
- Pure ethanol: 7.1 kcal per gram. In a 440 ml can at 4.5% (15.6 g alcohol), alcohol provides 111 kcal.
- Residual carbohydrates: Maltose and unfermented starches add 40 to 60 kcal per can.
This brings the total energy of a standard 440 ml can to roughly 150 to 175 kcal, while heavy 8% specialty cans exceed 250 kcal.
Log cans as real units, not just one drink.
Common questions
How many units in a 440 ml can of lager?
A 440 ml can at 4.0% is 1.8 UK units. At 4.5% (like standard Stella or Foster's) it is 2.0 units. At 5.0% it is 2.2 units. Formula: ml × ABV ÷ 1000 = units.
How many units in a 330 ml bottle of beer?
A standard 330 ml bottle (such as Corona, Peroni or Heineken) at 5.0% ABV contains 1.65 UK units (shown as 1.7 units), or about 13.0 g of pure alcohol.
How many units in a 500 ml tallboy can of beer?
A 500 ml can at 4.5% is 2.3 UK units. At 5.0% it is 2.5 units. Strong continental lagers or IPAs at 6.0% reach 3.0 units in a single 500 ml can.
Is a can of beer one unit?
No. No standard beer can in the UK is one unit. Even a lighter 330 ml can at 3.8% is 1.25 UK units. Calling any can "one drink" hides between 25% and 120% of the alcohol.
How many cans of beer is 14 units?
Exactly seven 440 ml cans at 4.5% (14 ÷ 1.98 = 7.1 cans), or about eight and a half 330 ml bottles at 5% (14 ÷ 1.65 = 8.5). Spread across three or more days to stay within UK guidance.
Does this count carbohydrates in beer?
The kcal figures here represent pure alcohol only (7.1 kcal per gram of ethanol). Malt carbohydrates typically add an extra 40 to 70 kcal per can depending on the beer style.
