How many grams of alcohol in a glass of wine?
Quick answer
A standard glass of wine (150ml) at 13% ABV contains roughly 15.4 grams of pure alcohol, or about 1.5 UK alcohol units. The formula: volume (ml) x ABV (%) x 0.8 (ethanol density) / 100. Belgian health guidelines (CSS) recommend a maximum of 10 standard drinks per week, with alcohol-free days.
Detailed answer
Knowing the alcohol content in a glass of wine is essential for responsible consumption. The formula: grams of alcohol = volume (ml) x ABV (%) x 0.789 (ethanol density) / 100.
For a standard 150ml glass: - At 12% ABV: 150 × 12 × 0.789 / 100 = 14.2g of alcohol - At 13% ABV: 150 × 13 × 0.789 / 100 = 15.4g of alcohol - At 14.5% ABV: 150 × 14.5 × 0.789 / 100 = 17.2g of alcohol
A standard drink in Belgium is 10g of pure ethanol. One glass at 13% equals about 1.5 standard drinks. In the UK, one unit = 8g, making it about 1.9 units per glass.
Watch out for sneaky extras: a 'generously poured' glass at a restaurant or at home often holds 180-200ml (not 150ml), pushing the alcohol to 18-20g. New World wines (Australia, California, Argentina) often run 14-15% ABV versus 12-13% for classic European wines — that's 15-20% more alcohol per glass.
Belgium's Superior Health Council (CSS) recommends a maximum of 10 standard drinks (10g each) per week — that's about 6-7 wine glasses at 13% ABV. They also recommend alcohol-free days and never more than 4 drinks in one sitting.
Elimination time is roughly 1-1.5 hours per standard drink. A 75kg man eliminates about 7g of alcohol per hour; a 60kg woman, about 5g/hour.
| Wine Type | Standard Serve | Typical ABV | Grams of Alcohol | Units (BE, 10g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champagne / Crémant | 125ml (flute) | 12% | 11.8g | 1.2 |
| Dry white (Loire, Alsace) | 150ml | 12% | 14.2g | 1.4 |
| Red (Bordeaux, Burgundy) | 150ml | 13% | 15.4g | 1.5 |
| Red (Rhône, California) | 150ml | 14.5% | 17.2g | 1.7 |
| Fortified (Port, Banyuls) | 80ml | 18% | 11.4g | 1.1 |
| Moscato d'Asti | 150ml | 5.5% | 6.5g | 0.7 |