Blood alcohol calculator: per mille estimate
See which per mille range a model gives for the amount you drank.
Do not use this result to decide whether to drive. The calculation does not measure your current alcohol level. It does not replace a medical assessment or an official alcohol test.
Calculation and personal screening
A calculator estimates; a strip screens saliva for alcohol.
To screen saliva for alcohol instead of estimating: the AlkoSafe saliva alcohol test. Its stated detection threshold is 0.20‰.
- 5 test strips$12.76 $2.55 per stripAdd to cart
- 10 test strips$21.56 $2.16 per stripAdd to cart
- 20 test strips$34.10 $1.71 per stripAdd to cart
Personal saliva screening does not replace an official alcohol test. A negative result does not show that driving is safe.
How many per mille is rakı, wine, beer or whisky? Model examples
The table uses the same model as the calculator: all the alcohol absorbed and none eliminated yet (0 hours). It shows two example body weights. Your own value can lie outside these ranges. Do not use the table to decide whether to drive.
| Drink | Woman, 60 kg (‰) | Man, 80 kg (‰) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 beer (330 ml, 5%) | 0.29–0.51 | 0.19–0.29 |
| 2 beers (330 ml, 5%) | 0.59–1.01 | 0.39–0.57 |
| 3 beers (330 ml, 5%) | 0.89–1.52 | 0.58–0.85 |
| 1 beer (500 ml, 5%) | 0.45–0.77 | 0.29–0.43 |
| 1 glass of wine (140 ml, 12%) | 0.30–0.52 | 0.19–0.29 |
| 2 glasses of wine (140 ml, 12%) | 0.60–1.03 | 0.39–0.58 |
| 40 ml rakı (45%) | 0.32–0.56 | 0.21–0.31 |
| 80 ml rakı (45%) | 0.64–1.11 | 0.42–0.62 |
| 120 ml rakı (45%) | 0.97–1.66 | 0.64–0.92 |
| 25 ml whisky (40%) | 0.18–0.31 | 0.11–0.18 |
| 50 ml whisky (40%) | 0.36–0.62 | 0.23–0.35 |
Single and double measures vary from bar to bar; enter the millilitres in your glass into the calculator. For a different weight, drink or time, use the calculator above.
What does the range mean?
The Widmark approach relates the amount of alcohol in a drink to body weight and distribution volume. This page first calculates a peak range from two distribution volumes, assuming full absorption, and then subtracts elimination for the time that has passed. The result is not a personal confidence interval.
Alcohol (g) = volume (ml) × alcohol content / 100 × 0.789
Peak (g/L) = alcohol (g) / [weight (kg) × distribution volume (L/kg)]
Lower scenario = at least 0, lower peak − 0.20 × hours since first drink
Upper scenario = at least 0, upper peak − 0.10 × at least 0 (hours since last drink − 2)
The distribution volume is 0.43–0.73 L/kg for the female group and 0.58–0.83 L/kg for the male group. The small distribution volume gives the upper result, the large one the lower result. Values are rounded outward to two decimals. Here 1 g/L is shown as 1‰. Distribution volume research · EGM unit explanation (Turkish)
How is the time that has passed taken into account?
The time of the first drink does not show when absorption was complete. Absorption and elimination vary from person to person. Jones’s review reports elimination rates of about 0.10–0.20‰ per hour for fasted and fed conditions, with a wider physiological range as well. For the lower result, 0.20‰ per hour is subtracted from the first drink onwards. For the upper result, 0.10‰ per hour is subtracted; this elimination starts two hours after the last drink, because absorption can take up to two hours. Elimination during the drinking period is not subtracted from the upper result, so spreading drinks out over time does not lower it. Linear elimination applies after absorption and may not hold below 0.20‰, so the model cannot reliably calculate values below that level. So the result is not a personal clock and does not tell you when you can drive. Jones, 2010 · ASB Best Practice Recommendation 122, 4.1
Where do the drink options come from?
The starting values are 330 ml at 5% for beer, 140 ml at 12% for wine, 40 ml at 45% for rakı and 40 ml at 40% for vodka. The whisky value of 25 ml at 40% is the UK example from the NHS. Enter your actual serving and the strength on the label. These are not recommended amounts to drink. Examples in the Üsküdar University publication, p. 20 · NHS whisky example
How should the limits in Turkey be read?
For private cars, the EGM uses the wording legal alcohol limit 0.50 per mille
, and for other vehicles legal alcohol limit 0.20 per mille
. Do not compare the scenario result on this page with these limits to decide whether to drive. EGM explanation (Turkish)
Questions about calculating per mille
How many per mille is 1 beer?
In this page's model, one 330 ml beer at 5% gives a peak scenario of about 0.19–0.29‰ for an 80 kg man and 0.29–0.51‰ for a 60 kg woman, assuming all the alcohol is absorbed and none eliminated. Your own value can lie outside this range. It is not a measurement.
How many per mille is a glass of rakı?
Single and double measures vary from bar to bar. In the model, 40 ml of rakı at 45% gives a peak scenario of about 0.21–0.31‰ for an 80 kg man and 80 ml gives 0.42–0.62‰; for a 60 kg woman 0.32–0.56‰ and 0.64–1.11‰. Enter the actual amount in your glass into the calculator.
How many per mille is a glass of wine?
In the model, one 140 ml glass of wine at 12% gives a peak scenario of about 0.19–0.29‰ for an 80 kg man and 0.30–0.52‰ for a 60 kg woman, assuming all the alcohol is absorbed and none eliminated. For two glasses the ranges are 0.39–0.58‰ and 0.60–1.03‰. Enter the actual amount in your glass and the strength on the label into the calculator.
How many per mille is a glass of whisky?
Measures vary from bar to bar. In the model, 25 ml of whisky at 40% gives a peak scenario of about 0.11–0.18‰ for an 80 kg man and 50 ml gives 0.23–0.35‰; for a 60 kg woman 0.18–0.31‰ and 0.36–0.62‰. Enter the actual amount in your glass into the calculator.
How is per mille calculated?
In the Widmark approach, the grams of alcohol drunk are divided by body weight times distribution volume. The result is grams of alcohol per litre of blood; 1 g/L is shown as 1‰. This page first calculates the peak range and then subtracts elimination for the time that has passed.
How many per mille does the body eliminate per hour?
Jones's review reports about 0.10–0.20‰ per hour for fasted and fed conditions; it varies between people, and a wider range exists as well. Absorption can take up to two hours, so the level may not start falling right after the last drink.
How many beers make 0.50 per mille?
No safe number of beers can be given. The same amount gives different results depending on weight, sex, food and time, and the model ranges are wide: two 330 ml beers at 5%, assuming all the alcohol is absorbed and none eliminated, give a peak scenario of 0.39–0.57‰ for an 80 kg man and 0.59–1.01‰ for a 60 kg woman. Larger glasses (50 cl) or stronger beer raise these values. According to the EGM, the legal limit in Turkey is 0.50‰ for private cars and 0.20‰ for other vehicles. Do not compare a calculated result with these limits to decide whether to drive.
What does per mille mean?
Per mille means parts per thousand. For alcohol in blood, 1‰ means 1 gram of alcohol per litre of blood; 0.20‰ is 20 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.
How accurate is an alcohol calculator?
A calculator does not measure anything. It works out a model range from distribution volumes and elimination rates reported in research. Absorption and elimination differ from person to person, so your real value can lie outside this range. Do not use the result to decide whether to drive.
Calculator or test?
A calculator estimates; a strip screens saliva for alcohol. The AlkoSafe saliva test has a stated detection threshold of 0.20‰. Personal screening does not replace an official alcohol test, and a negative result does not show that driving is safe.
