What is a standard drink in Australia?
In Australia, a standard drink is any alcoholic drink that contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. It is a unit of measurement, in the same way a metre measures distance. It is not a serving size: most glasses, cans and bottles contain more than one standard drink, and the number changes with both the size of the container and the strength of the drink.
By law, every packaged alcoholic drink sold in Australia must show the number of standard drinks on the label. Poured drinks at a bar or restaurant do not carry a label, which is why a tool like this one is useful.
Standard drinks = volume (mL) × % alc/vol × 0.789 ÷ 1000
The figure 0.789 is the density of alcohol (grams per millilitre). For example, a 150 mL glass of 13% red wine is 150 × 13 × 0.789 ÷ 1000 = 1.5 standard drinks.
Standard drinks in common Australian serves
Approximate standard drinks in common serves
| Drink | Serve | Strength | Standard drinks |
|---|
Figures are approximate and rounded to one decimal place. Actual strength varies by brand and product.
Australian Alcohol Guidelines
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines recommend that healthy adults reduce their risk of alcohol-related harm by keeping within these limits. The less you drink, the lower your risk. Anyone under 18, and anyone pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, should not drink alcohol.
10 a weekNo more than 10 standard drinks in any week.
4 a dayNo more than 4 standard drinks on any one day.
Frequently asked questions
How many standard drinks are in a glass of wine?
A typical 150 mL restaurant serve of red wine (13%) is about 1.5 standard drinks, and a 150 mL serve of white wine (11.5%) is about 1.4. One standard drink is only about 100 mL of red wine or 110 mL of white wine. A 750 mL bottle of 13% wine holds around 7.7 standard drinks.
How many standard drinks are in a pint, schooner or middy of beer?
For full-strength beer (4.8%): a 285 mL middy or pot is about 1.1 standard drinks, a 425 mL schooner about 1.6, and a 570 mL pint about 2.2. Mid-strength (3.5%) and light beer (2.7%) contain proportionally less.
Is a nip of spirits one standard drink?
A 30 mL nip of 40% spirits is about 0.95 standard drinks, close enough to be counted as one. A double (60 mL) is about 1.9. Free-poured spirits at home are usually much larger than a measured nip.
How long does it take the body to process one standard drink?
On average a healthy liver processes roughly one standard drink per hour, but this varies with body size, sex, food, medication and general health. Nothing speeds it up: coffee, cold showers and food do not lower your blood alcohol concentration.
Why does this matter for RSA and licensed venue staff?
Responsible Service of Alcohol law requires staff to monitor consumption, recognise signs of intoxication and refuse service where required. Knowing the standard drink content of each serve lets you judge how much a customer has had, not just how many glasses. This is a core part of RSA training and of the WA Approved Manager course.
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Related tool: How alcohol affects the body
This calculator is a guide only. Alcohol content varies by brand, product and pour. Figures are approximate and rounded. It is not a tool for judging fitness to drive. For support with alcohol, contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.