🍶Alcohol Strength & Volume Converter
Calculates the pure alcohol in grams for each drink and converts it into equivalent glasses of other drinks. Shows standard-drink counts (Korea 7g, WHO 10g, UK 8g, US 14g) and compares against low-risk drinking limits. Glass sizes follow Korea's National Forensic Service guideline; ABV can be entered manually.
How to use
- 1Pick what you drank and how many glasses. Use "Enter ABV and volume" when the product's strength differs.
- 2Pure alcohol is calculated in grams and converted into standard drinks under the Korean, WHO, UK and US definitions.
- 3Choose a sex to see the result as a percentage of the low-risk amount per occasion (40g men, 20g women).
- 4Check the list below for how many glasses of other drinks carry the same alcohol.
FAQ
Why measure alcohol in grams instead of millilitres?+
Volumes aren't comparable across drinks with different strengths. WHO and national health authorities all express alcohol intake in grams. The formula is volume(ml) × ABV(%) ÷ 100 × 0.789 (ethanol density) — the same 0.789 used in Korea's National Forensic Service guideline.
Does a shot of soju contain the same alcohol as a glass of beer?+
Almost. A soju shot (48ml, 15.7%) is about 5.9g of pure alcohol; a beer glass (168ml, 4.5%) is about 6.0g. A 500cc draft glass actually holds 425ml, so it is about 15.1g — roughly 2.5 shots of soju.
Why is a soju shot 48ml rather than 50ml?+
Korea's National Forensic Service BAC guideline (2024) puts the soju glass capacity at 62.5ml and the amount actually poured at 48ml. The familiar 50ml is a rounded figure closer to glass size. This tool uses actual pour amounts: soju 48ml, beer glass 168ml, 500cc draft glass 425ml.
Does a standard drink differ by country?+
Yes. One standard drink is 7g of pure alcohol in Korea, 10g under WHO, 8g in the UK (one unit) and 14g in the US. The same drink yields different counts depending on the standard, so this tool shows all four.
How much is considered low risk?+
The Korea Health Promotion Institute recommends no more than 40g of pure alcohol per occasion for men and 20g for women. Note that Korea's national cancer prevention guideline was revised in 2016 to advise avoiding even one or two drinks a day. If your face flushes when drinking, you likely lack the enzyme that breaks alcohol down and should halve these limits or abstain.
My bottle has a different ABV.+
Tap "Enter ABV and volume" to type the actual strength and glass size. Soju alone ranges from 15.7% (Chamisul Fresh) to 16.0% (Chum Churum) to 20.1% (original), and drinks like highballs have no standard strength at all.
Does it estimate blood alcohol concentration or sober-up time?+
No. This tool only calculates how much alcohol you drank; it does not estimate blood alcohol concentration. BAC depends heavily on body water, metabolism, food and elapsed time, and Korea's forensic guideline forbids applying its formula within 1.5 hours of the last drink or below 0.02%. Only a breathalyser or blood test can tell you the real figure, and no calculation may be used to decide whether you can drive.
How many bottles of soju equal a bottle of wine?+
A 750ml bottle of wine at 12% contains about 71g of pure alcohol; a 360ml bottle of soju at 15.7% contains about 44.6g. So one bottle of wine is roughly 1.6 bottles of soju.