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0.0% vs 0.5% vs regular beer: numbers side by side
The table below shows the exact pure alcohol in grams and UK units for popular non-alcoholic, de-alcoholised and standard pours.
| Drink & pour | ABV | Pure alcohol (g) | UK units | US drinks | Time for body to clear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0% Beer (330 ml can) | 0.0% | 0.0 g | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 mins |
| 0.5% AF Beer (330 ml can, e.g. Lucky Saint) | 0.5% | 1.3 g | 0.16 | 0.09 | ~8–10 mins |
| 0.5% AF Draught (568 ml pint) | 0.5% | 2.2 g | 0.28 | 0.16 | ~15 mins |
| Standard Bitter (568 ml pint) | 3.8% | 17.0 g | 2.20 | 1.21 | ~2 hours 15 mins |
| Standard Lager (568 ml pint) | 4.5% | 20.2 g | 2.60 | 1.44 | ~2 hours 45 mins |
| Craft IPA (568 ml pint) | 6.0% | 26.9 g | 3.40 | 1.92 | ~3 hours 30 mins |
Foods with as much alcohol as 0.5% beer
Natural yeast fermentation occurs in many staple foods. Because 0.5% is an upper ceiling rather than an added spirit, ordinary groceries frequently contain comparable amounts of pure ethanol:
- Very ripe bananas: can contain between 0.2% and 0.4% ABV (0.2 to 0.4 g of ethanol per 100 g).
- Commercial burger buns: yeast-leavened bread rolls have been measured with up to 1.2 g of ethanol per 100 g.
- Fresh unpasteurised orange juice: naturally ferments to between 0.1% and 0.5% ABV (up to 0.7 g of ethanol per litre).
- Kombucha: typically between 0.2% and 0.5% ABV.
The liver metabolises ethanol at an average rate of 8 to 10 g per hour. Because one 330 ml can of 0.5% beer delivers only 1.3 g, the liver processes the alcohol at the same speed it enters the bloodstream, making clinical intoxication physically impossible.
Track regular drinks and non-alcoholic days together. Modraly counts the week with zero streaks.
Do 0.5% beers count during Damp January or Dry January?
If your goal for Dry January is complete, absolute abstinence, 0.0% beers (which contain no detectable alcohol) avoid any residual ethanol debate.
If your goal is a Damp January or staying comfortably within the UK Chief Medical Officers' 14-unit weekly guideline, 0.5% beers are an exceptional harm-reduction choice. Even four cans of 0.5% beer over an evening add up to only 0.66 units—saving over 9 units compared to four standard pints of lager.
Common questions
How many units in a 330 ml can of 0.5% beer?
A 330 ml can of 0.5% ABV beer contains 0.165 UK units of alcohol (about 1.3 grams of pure ethanol). Formula: 330 × 0.5 ÷ 1,000 = 0.165 units.
How many units in a pint of 0.5% beer?
A British pint (568 ml) of draught 0.5% beer contains 0.28 UK units of alcohol (2.24 grams of pure ethanol). By comparison, a standard 4.5% pint of lager contains 2.6 units—nearly ten times as much.
Can you get drunk on 0.5% alcohol-free beer?
No. The healthy human liver metabolises approximately 8 to 10 grams of alcohol per hour (about 1 UK unit). Drinking a 330 ml can of 0.5% beer introduces only 1.3 grams of alcohol, meaning your body metabolises the ethanol faster than your stomach can absorb it.
How many 0.5% beers equal one standard pint of lager?
It takes approximately sixteen 330 ml cans of 0.5% beer (5.3 litres of liquid) to equal the pure alcohol contained in a single 568 ml pint of 4.5% lager (20.2 grams of pure ethanol).
Does food contain as much alcohol as 0.5% beer?
Yes. Everyday foods produce small amounts of ethanol through natural yeast fermentation. A ripe banana can contain up to 0.4% ABV (around 0.3 g of ethanol), burger buns up to 1.28 g per 100 g, and one litre of store-bought orange juice can naturally hold up to 0.7 g of ethanol.
What is the legal difference between 0.0% and 0.5% beer in the UK?
Under UK government labelling guidance: "Alcohol-free" applies to drinks with no more than 0.05% ABV; "De-alcoholised" applies to products where alcohol was extracted down to 0.5% ABV or less; and "Low-alcohol" applies to drinks between 0.5% and 1.2% ABV.
Does 0.5% beer count towards the UK 14-unit weekly guideline?
Technically yes, but the figure is negligible. You would need to drink 85 cans of 0.5% beer in a single week to reach the UK 14-unit threshold. For moderation or Damp January tracking, 0.5% beers do not meaningfully alter your weekly unit total.
