Hey all, new to TSM, haven't yet taken the first dose and I'm really enjoying all the research in preparation. The coolest thing is that I can't really find any reason to not proceed. This forum is the bomb.

Please forgive my infantile question: What exactly is the definition of units? I've seen as measured by "UK" and "US" standards, but are we generally talking 1-oz shots of liquor, 8-oz glasses of wine, 12-oz cans of beer, or all of the foregoing, depending on the individual?

I measure my intake by the number of empty wine bottles every night, but really want to peg my number so that I can more accurately begin this process. I pour a pretty big glass of wine, if you know what I mean...

You would think I would know this. I was a bartender for 5 years about 20 years ago. Thanks for the assistance-

Hi cap, I only go by the number of units in a whole bottle of wine which is 5 units and take it from there. I'm sure someone else will respond to your question but until then go with the units per bottle.


corkit

That's US or Aussie units there corkit, correct (and are they the same thing)?

In UK units a lower-strength bottle of wine will be 9 units, and a stronger strength one up to 11 or so, I think. A standard bottle of wine in the UK is labelled as a quantity of 750ml.

I don't understand all this ounces stuff used in the US for alcohol - I guess this is one area we've gone metric whereas our friends across the pond have stayed traditional? (And good on you for doing so! )

I generally drink beers of 4% abv which are 500ml, and that equates to 2 UK units. Recently I've been drinking mixed spirits, within which a measure (25ml) of 40% abv is, again, 2 UK units.

Hope that helps (it sure has confused me even more!!)

I've got a spreadsheet that you can use if you want. It'll do any standard units you need, but has presets built in for US units.

Wow, my question and your answers have made me realize just how global this forum is. Awesome.

Ok, to further the thought... I usually buy (and drink, at worst) a 1.5L bottle of red wine each night (which, in the US, is considered to be 2 bottles in one, a typical bottle of wine being 750ml). Based literally on converting liters to ounces, this 1.5L bottle equals approx. 50.72 ounces. Assuming a glass of wine is 8 ounces (which is almost exactly what I poured free-handed and then measured), there is 6.34 units to one of "my" bottles of wine.

So....if I'm drinking one of these bottles every night, can I safely say I'm at approx. 44 units a week?

I'm thinking this is my starting number, agree?

Thanks again, in the few days I have found this forum, it has been invaluable.

cap

It depends on the AL % of your wine. What is it?

You're initial stab at it is...well way off. I'd say that's closer to 80 units off the top of my head. Uhhh, a typical glass of wine is 4 1/2 fz, so 50.72/4.5x7 days is 78.9 units/week if your wine is a standard AL %.

Thanks LoOp...I'm still a bit confused, however. I guess I need to pick a manner of calculating, stick with it, and go from there. Thanks again.

That's actually the easiest way. It doesn't really matter if your units are perfect as long as they are close, and you calculate them the same way every time. It's the trend that matters more.

If you tell me the alcohol content of your wine I'll tell you how to calculate it exactly.

Here's the spreadsheet I use, it makes it pretty easy for me...but I'm a geek:

1.5 litres of wine is two bottles in Europe too...between 18 and 23 units here I believe (depending on strength).

This is all a minefield, huh?! In England it's easy - most drinks and bottles have the number of units listed on the label.

I've seen people on here just count 'drinks' rather than try to work out exactly the alcohol content - maybe that is one way to go without worrying too much?

Anyway, all the best to you, keep us posted on your progress

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