Free, simple drink calculator
Standard drink calculator: how many drinks is that?
A 24 oz beer or a strong canned cocktail can contain more alcohol than one standard drink. Choose a common drink below—or enter the amount on its label—to get a quick answer.
1. Pick your drink
Tap a drink to fill in typical size and alcohol percentage. You can change either number.
12 oz at 5% ABV contains about 0.60 fl oz of pure alcohol.
2. Your drink total (optional)
Adding drinks is helpful if you've had more than one type. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
- No drinks added yet.
Use “Add to total” above to count different drinks together.
Optional: Estimate BAC (blood alcohol concentration)
This is a rough educational model, not a measurement. Actual BAC can differ considerably because of absorption, drink timing, food, body composition and individual metabolism.
For BAC, add the drinks you've had above first. This section uses the total added, not the unadded drink currently selected.
This number is not suitable for making driving or medical decisions. Even low BAC levels can impair driving, and this simple equation may underestimate actual BAC.
What is one standard drink?
In the United States, one standard drink contains approximately 0.6 U.S. fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. The drink's size and its ABV both matter. This calculator uses the alcohol percentage on the beverage label. NIAAA standard drink guidance.
Quick examples
| Drink | U.S. standard drinks |
|---|---|
| 12 oz beer, 5% ABV | 1.00 |
| 24 oz beer, 5% ABV | 2.00 |
| 24 oz strong beer, 8% ABV | 3.20 |
| 750 mL wine, 12% ABV | About 5.07 |
| 1.5 oz liquor, 40% ABV | 1.00 |
Common questions
How many drinks are in a 24 oz tallboy?
A 24 oz can at 5% ABV is 2 standard drinks. At 8% ABV it's 3.2 standard drinks. Check the can: the label determines the correct answer.
Does a mixed drink count as one drink?
Not necessarily. Two 1.5 oz shots of 40% liquor count as approximately 2 standard drinks, even after adding soda or juice. For cocktails, enter the combined volume of alcoholic ingredients at their ABV; if the spirits have different strengths, calculate them individually and add them to your total.
How is estimated BAC different from counting standard drinks?
Standard-drink equivalents are calculated from the beverage's size and alcohol percentage. BAC is a concentration in the bloodstream and cannot be measured from drink counts alone. The optional estimate uses a simplified Widmark model and assumed elimination rate; it cannot establish when someone is sober.
Is a BAC below 0.08 safe for driving?
No. Impairment and crash risk start below 0.08, and BAC estimates may be wrong. The safest plan after drinking is not to drive. NHTSA on alcohol impairment.
References and related tools
- CDC: Standard drink sizes
- NIAAA: What counts as a drink
- Washington State Patrol: Widmark equation reference
- NHTSA: Alcohol effects and driving
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For education only. This tool neither diagnoses intoxication nor recommends drinking amounts. It does not store your entries.