Introduction
Wine has been a cherished companion throughout human history, enjoyed for its diverse flavours, cultural significance, and the subtle art of winemaking. While sipping on a glass of wine is a delightful experience, it's essential to understand the alcohol content, especially if you're mindful of your overall consumption. In this journal article, we'll explore the world of wine units, helping you decipher how many units are in your favourite pour.
UK Low Risk Drinking Weekly Guidelines
In order to maintain minimal health risks associated with alcohol consumption, adhering to the UK's recommended guidelines is imperative. These guidelines, first introduced in the UK in 1978, from the Chief Medical Officer apply to both men and women and emphasise the following key points:
To maintain health risks associated with alcohol at a low level, it is advisable not to exceed 14 units per week on a consistent basis. If your regular alcohol consumption reaches this limit, it is recommended to distribute your drinking across three or more days and never to binge drink. Engaging in one or two heavy drinking episodes per week raises the risk of long-term illness, accidents, and injuries leading to a higher likelihood of death.
The probability of developing various health issues, such as cancers in the mouth, throat, and breast, abnormal heart rythms, stroke, liver problems, high blood pressure and many more escalates with increased regular alcohol intake. If you are looking to reduce your alcohol consumption, a helpful approach is to incorporate several drink-free days into each week. This strategic reduction plan can contribute to achieving a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
If you're pregnant, it's best to avoid consuming alcohol entirely to reduce any potential harm to your baby.
Binge Drinking
Engaging in binge drinking, defined as consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short timeframe, poses significant dangers. Our bodies have a limited capacity to process alcohol, roughly one unit per hour, and even less for certain individuals. Rapidly consuming a substantial quantity of alcohol can impede the proper functioning of your body by elevating the alcohol levels in your bloodstream. This heightened risk increases the likelihood of accidents, alcohol poisoning, and various short and long-term health complications.
Understanding Alcohol Units
Before delving into wine specifically, it's crucial to grasp the concept of alcohol units. The term "alcohol unit" is a standard measure used to quantify the amount of pure alcohol in a drink. In most countries, one unit is equivalent to 10 milliliters (ml) or 8 grams of pure alcohol. This is the amount an average adult body can process in an hour, so there should be very little to no traces of alcohol in the blood after this time. Note that everyone is different and this is a generalisation and a rough average guideline. Also, keep in mind that the alcohol content in different beverages varies, so it's essential to consider the type and strength of the drink.
A standard 175ml glass of wine, classified as medium-strength, contains approximately 2.3 units of alcohol. Exceeding six glasses of wine of this size per week would surpass the low-risk drinking recommendation set by the UK Chief Medical Officer (CMO), which advises consuming less than 14 units weekly.
Wine Varieties and Alcohol Content
Wine comes in various styles, each with its unique flavour profile and alcohol content. Here's a breakdown of the average alcohol content for different types of wine:
Light-bodied White Wines:
Examples: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
Alcohol Content: Typically ranges from 9% to 12%
Units in a Standard Glass (175 ml): Approximately 1.3 to 2 units
Full-bodied White Wines:
Examples: Chardonnay, Viognier
Alcohol Content: Usually between 12% and 14%
Units in a Standard Glass (175 ml): Around 2 to 2.5 units
Light-bodied Red Wines:
Examples: Pinot Noir, Gamay
Alcohol Content: Typically around 11% to 13%
Units in a Standard Glass (175 ml): Approximately 1.5 to 2.3 units
Full-bodied Red Wines:
Examples: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Alcohol Content: Often between 13% and 15%
Units in a Standard Glass (175 ml): Around 2 to 2.6 units
Rose and Sparkling Wines:
Examples: Provance, Prosecco, Cava
Alcohol Content: Around 12%
Units in a Standard Glass (175 ml): Around 1.5 units
Calculating Units in a Glass
In order to calculate how many units are in a drink, we need to know the volume of the drink in millilitres and the alcohol by volume (ABV) for the particular drink. ABV is the amount of pure alcohol as a percentage of the total volume. This is displayed on all alcoholic drink packaging.
To determine the number of units in your glass of wine, you can use the following formula:
Volume of Wine (ml) x Alcohol by Volume (%) ÷ 1000
For a standard glass of wine (175 ml), assuming an average alcohol content of 12%, the calculation would look like this:
175 x 12 ÷ 1000 = 2.1 units
Advantages of Reducing Alcohol Consumption
Immediate advantages of cutting down include feeling better in the mornings, reduced daytime fatigue, improved appearance of skin, increased energy levels, better weight control.
Long-term advantages lower levels of anxiety and depression, better quality sleep, better heart health and improved immune system amongst many others.
Tips for Monitoring Drinking Habits and Managing Alcohol Consumption
- Keep an alcohol consumption diary - Having a few drinks here and there can add up really quickly as strengths and measures of drinks can vary. Keeping a weekly diary can be a very useful method to identify if an individual is consuming too much alcohol without realising it.
- Read the Label - Checking the label of a drink and identifying the ABV streangth of a drink can be very useful to monitor and manage alcohol consumption. Opt to go for a lower strength ABV drink where possible.
- Reduce serving size - Swapping from a large (250ml) wine glass to a medium (175ml) or small (125ml) glass at a restaurant or at home can significantly reduce alcohol consumption and its harmful effects. Many winen now also come in smaller bottles such as 500ml, 375ml etc.
- Research Alcohol Preservation Methods - Once a bottle of wine has been opened, it does not have to be finished in one sitting. Identifying how long an opened drink will keep and ways such as investing in a vacuum or inert gas preservation tools can help reducing overall alcohol consumption.
- Take Drink-Free Days - Do not drink every day. Take a break and do not consume any alcohol at least a few days per week.
Getting Help with Drinking
If concerns about your drinking have arisen, there are four primary avenues through which you can seek specialised assistance:
- Consult your GP surgery, where you can receive advice or be referred for additional support.
- Reach out to a local treatment provider and initiate a self-referral process.
- Directly contact a local community alcohol support service, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery.
- Additionally, you have the option to call Drinkline, the national alcohol helpline, at 0300 123 1110. This helpline is both free and confidential, providing support for individuals seeking assistance with alcohol-related concerns.
More information on this subject can be found on Drinkaware, British Heart Foundation, NHS
Recommendations of Lower ABV Wines
Whites:
BROKENWOOD Cricket Pitch White
BROKENWOOD ILR Reserve Semillon
WEINGUT WESZELI Grüner Veltliner Felix 2022
Sweet:
VIETTI Cascinetta Moscato d'Asti
MICHELE CHIARLO Nivole Moscato d'Asti DOCG
ANTINORI PRUNOTTO Moscato d'Asti DOCG
LA SPINETTA Moscato d'Asti Biancospino
LA SPINETTA Moscato d'Asti Bricco Quaglia
CONTERO Moscato d'Asti di Strevi
Sparkling:
FRESITA Original Sparkling Wine with Strawberries NV
Red:
JÉRÉMIE HUCHET Chapeau Melon Rouge
JEAN-MARC BURGAUD Beaujolais Villages Les Vignes de Lantignie
LOUIS JADOT Beaujolais Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques’
Conclusion
While enjoying a glass of wine is a pleasurable experience, understanding the alcohol content is crucial for responsible consumption. By knowing the average alcohol content of different wine types and using a simple calculation, you can easily determine the number of units in your glass. So, whether you're sipping a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a robust Cabernet Sauvignon, you can savour the moment responsibly, armed with knowledge about your pour. Cheers to the art and science of wine appreciation!