Take
Time Out
- Alcohol Unit Guide
That drink could last longer than you think…
Alternative format guide - pocket guide available to from HFRS Road Safety Team
Take Time Out
A healthy body takes one hour
to process one unit of alcohol
but this varies according to sex,
age and body mass.
Let’s say you have 3 pints of lager,
2 alcopops, and 3 shorts before
11:30pm. This works out at a
staggering 16.5 units!
To be safe, you must allow at
least 16 hours 30 minutes before
you drive. That’s 4pm the next
afternoon!
“Alcohol gives you energy”
False: Alcohol is a depressant
that can actually make you
sleepy.
“Drink drivers can be safe,
because they drive more
carefully”
False: Alcohol slows down
reaction time, which makes
driving much trickier than you
think.
“I can sober up quickly if I
need to - with a cold shower,
fresh air or coffee”
False: None of these will make
you sober. Only time will remove
alcohol from your system.
“Eating a big meal, or lining
your stomach before or after
you drink will keep you sober”
False: This will only delay the
absorption of alcohol into the
bloodstream, not prevent it.
Common alcohol myths
The facts
Time is the only thing that
sobers you up.
There are no shortcuts.
More than a third of us under
estimate when it’s safe to drive
the next day.
If you have a drink, take time out
before driving!
It’s time to take public transport,
book a taxi, or share a lift…or you
could have plenty of time on your
hands.
For more information visit:
www.drinkaware.co.uk
To access this information in an
alternative format please visit:
www.hantsfire.gov.uk/taketimeout
Remember: one unit = one hour
Bottle
(330ml)
Can
(440ml)
Pint
(568ml)
Litre
0.7 units
0.9 units
1.1 units
2 units
1.3 units
1.8 units
2.3 units
4 units
1.7 units
2.2 units
2.8 units
5 units
2 units
2.6 units
3.4 units
6 units
3 units
4 units
5.1 units
9 units
Bottle
(275ml)
1.4 units
Small
measure
(25ml)
Large
measure
(35ml)
Small double
measure
(50ml)
Large double
measure
(70ml)
1 unit1.4
units
1.9 - 2 units
2.7 - 2.8 units
Small glass
(125ml)
Standard
glass
(175ml)
Large glass
(250ml)
Bottle
(750ml)
1.25 units
1.75 units
2.5 units
7.5 units
1.4 units
1.9 units
2.8 units
8.3 units
1.5 units
2.1 units
3 units
9 units
1.6 units
2.3 units
3.3 units
9.8 units
1.75 units
2.5 units
3.5 units
10.5 units
Standard
measure
(50ml)
Fortified Wine:
Sherry/Port
17.5 - 20%
0.9 - 1 unit
Small
measure
(25ml)
Large
measure
(35ml)
1 unit 1.3
units
A healthy body takes one hour to process one unit of alcohol
but this varies according to sex, age and body mass.