How much promille is a double rakı? Why no rakı count fits the legal limit
A double rakı has no fixed promille value. An 80 ml double at 45% contains about 28 grams of alcohol and, in the Widmark model, gives a peak of about 0.38–0.55‰ in a 90 kg man and 0.64–1.11‰ in a 60 kg woman. In the model, one double can stay below Turkey’s 0.50‰ limit for one person and pass it for another.
For drivers held to 0.20‰ (drivers of any vehicle other than a private car, and novice drivers in their first two years), one double is above the limit for all three of our example people, and even a single (tek) can be. All figures here are model estimates; none of them is a measurement.
This guide explains where the numbers come from, why “a double” is not even one fixed amount, and why water in the glass changes nothing. It does not tell you how much you can drink before driving, because no count can. It is written for people who drive in Turkey and sit at a rakı table.
How much promille is one double rakı?
One 80 ml double rakı at 45% gives a model peak of roughly 0.38 to 1.11‰, depending on who drinks it: 0.38–0.55‰ for a 90 kg man, 0.48–0.70‰ for a 70 kg man and 0.64–1.11‰ for a 60 kg woman. Weight and body water drive the spread; food and time change the real value further. These are model estimates, not measurements.
A single (tek) rakı is 40 ml at 45% in the serving list of a Turkish addiction-medicine guide (Üsküdar University). The Turkish dictionary defines a double (duble) as twice the single measure (TDK), so a double is 80 ml.
The alcohol in a drink is its volume × alcohol percentage × 0.789, the density of ethanol in grams per millilitre (Searle 2015). A 40 ml single at 45% holds about 14 grams of alcohol; an 80 ml double about 28 grams.
To turn grams into promille, the Widmark model divides the alcohol by body weight × a distribution volume, the share of the body the alcohol spreads into. A current forensic standard gives population ranges of 0.58–0.83 L/kg for men and 0.43–0.73 L/kg for women (ANSI/ASB 122, 2024; Maskell et al. 2023). One promille means one gram of alcohol per litre of blood, the unit the Turkish limits use (Turkish Traffic Department). In BAC terms, 0.50‰ equals 0.05%. More on the unit: what does promille mean.
Formula: alcohol (g) = volume (ml) × ABV × 0.789; promille ≈ alcohol (g) ÷ [weight (kg) × distribution volume (L/kg)].
The model peak for one single and one double rakı, assuming all the alcohol is absorbed and none is broken down yet:
| Person (model) | Single (tek) rakı, 40 ml, 45% | Double (duble) rakı, 80 ml, 45% |
|---|---|---|
| Man, 90 kg | 0.19–0.28‰ | 0.38–0.55‰ |
| Man, 70 kg | 0.24–0.35‰ | 0.48–0.70‰ |
| Woman, 60 kg | 0.32–0.56‰ | 0.64–1.11‰ |
Our own calculation with the formula above, rounded outward to two decimals. The ranges are wide because the model does not know your body composition, only your sex and weight. You can see the range for your own weight, pour and label in the blood alcohol calculator.
The table shows three things. First, every double starts at 0.38‰ or higher, so one double is above 0.20‰ for all three example people. Second, the double ranges of both men span 0.50‰, and the 60 kg woman’s range lies entirely above it. Third, her upper value (1.11‰) passes 1.00‰, the level at which criminal law also applies in Turkey (see below).
The model assumes full absorption and leaves out food and time. Both change the real number, as the sections below show.
How much promille is a single (tek) rakı?
A 40 ml single rakı at 45% gives a model peak of about 0.19–0.56‰: 0.19–0.28‰ for a 90 kg man, 0.24–0.35‰ for a 70 kg man and 0.32–0.56‰ for a 60 kg woman. A single holds about as much alcohol as a small beer (14 g against 13 g).
A single can pass a limit too. Its range for the 90 kg man spans 0.20‰, it lies above 0.20‰ for the other two, and the 60 kg woman’s upper value (0.56‰) passes 0.50‰.
How many ml is a double rakı?
By the dictionary definition and the guide’s 40 ml single, a double rakı is 80 ml. In practice the size varies, and the size changes the result. Some web pages and calculators count a double as 70 ml, others as 50 ml. Restaurants and bars pour by their own measure.
| Double (duble) at 45% | Pure alcohol | 90 kg man | 70 kg man | 60 kg woman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ml | about 18 g | 0.23–0.35‰ | 0.30–0.44‰ | 0.40–0.69‰ |
| 70 ml | about 25 g | 0.33–0.48‰ | 0.42–0.62‰ | 0.56–0.97‰ |
| 80 ml | about 28 g | 0.38–0.55‰ | 0.48–0.70‰ | 0.64–1.11‰ |
Model peaks, our calculation with the formula above, rounded outward. Even the smallest double lies above 0.20‰ for all three example people.
The strength on the label matters too. Turkish food law sets a minimum of 40% alcohol for rakı (Türk Gıda Kodeksi, Distilled Spirits Communiqué 2016/55, Annex 1); the guide’s serving list uses 45%. An 80 ml double at 40% holds about 25 grams and gives 0.43–0.63‰ for a 70 kg man in the model. Read the percentage on your bottle.
Does water or ice lower the promille of rakı?
No. Water and ice make the drink larger and milder in taste, but the grams of alcohol stay the same: an 80 ml double topped up with water still holds about 28 grams.
How much promille are two double rakı?
Two doubles hold about 57 grams of alcohol. In the model that gives a peak of 0.76–1.09‰ for a 90 kg man, 0.97–1.40‰ for a 70 kg man and 1.29–2.21‰ for a 60 kg woman. All three ranges lie entirely above 0.50‰. Both men’s ranges span 1.00‰, and the woman’s lies entirely above it.
Three doubles (about 85 grams) give 1.46–2.10‰ for a 70 kg man in the model. A rule of thumb such as “one double is fine” does not survive the model: one double already passes 0.50‰ for some people, and two doubles pass it for everyone in our examples.
What affects promille at a rakı table? Five factors
The same rakı gives two people different promille. Five factors decide the difference: the amount of alcohol, body weight, body water, food in the stomach and time.
- Amount and strength. A double holds twice the alcohol of a single, and a 45% bottle more than a 40% one. Count millilitres and read the label.
- Body weight. The same alcohol spreads into a larger body and gives a lower concentration.
- Body water. Alcohol dissolves in water, not fat. Women on average have less body water per kilogram, which is why the female range starts lower (0.43 L/kg) and gives higher promille for the same drink (ANSI/ASB 122).
- Food (meze) in the stomach. In a crossover study, ten men drank the same dose after an overnight fast and after breakfast. The average peak was 1.04‰ on an empty stomach and 0.67‰ after the meal (Jones & Jönsson 1994, PMID 8064267). Meze lowers the peak; it does not remove the alcohol.
- Time. Absorption can take up to about two hours (ANSI/ASB 122), so blood alcohol can still rise after the last glass. After that, blood alcohol falls by roughly 0.10–0.20‰ per hour, often near 0.15 (Jones 2010, PMID 20304569). Coffee, exercise or a short nap do not speed this up; that takes the liver and time (Turkish Traffic Department). More in our guide how long alcohol stays in your system.
Rakı, beer, wine and whisky: how many grams of alcohol in one serving?
A single rakı, a small beer and a glass of wine hold almost the same amount of alcohol. A double rakı holds about as much as two small beers. Using the serving sizes of the Turkish guide (Üsküdar University):
| Drink | Serving | Alcohol | Pure alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakı, single (tek) | 40 ml | 45% | about 14 g |
| Rakı, double (duble) | 80 ml | 45% | about 28 g |
| Beer | 330 ml | 5% | about 13 g |
| Wine | 140 ml | 12% | about 13 g |
| Whisky, single | 40 ml | 40% | about 13 g |
The double row follows from the dictionary definition; the whisky row applies the guide’s 40 ml single measure for vodka and gin to whisky, which Turkish food law also sets at a minimum of 40%. The other servings are from the guide. What one beer does in the model is explained in how much promille is one beer.
What is the legal limit in Turkey?
In Turkey the drink-driving limit is 0.50‰ for private-car drivers and 0.20‰ for drivers of all other vehicles (Turkish Traffic Department). Novice drivers are held to 0.20‰ in any vehicle during their first two licensed years; above it, the novice licence is cancelled (Law 2918, Additional Article 17). A first offence above 0.50‰ in a private car, or above 0.20‰ in any other vehicle, means a 25,000 TL fine and six months without a licence (Law 2918, art. 48(5); amount in force since 27 February 2026). Above 1.00‰, Article 179(3) of the Turkish Penal Code applies in addition to the administrative fine (Law 2918). Penalties, repeat offences and refusing the test are explained in drink-driving limits and fines in Turkey.
Promille estimate or measurement?
Counting glasses is an estimate, and so is a calculator. Our blood alcohol calculator uses the same model as this article: you enter drinks, weight and time, and it gives a range, not a verdict.
If you want a signal from your own body instead of an estimate, a saliva test checks instead of counting. Ethanol passes from blood into saliva, and in a study of 48 men saliva alcohol followed blood alcohol closely, at about 1.08 times the blood value (Jones 1979, PMID 761427). That describes saliva, not the accuracy of any strip. AlkoSafe is a saliva screening strip with a stated detection threshold of 0.20‰ (manufacturer statement); how it turns alcohol into a colour is explained on how AlkoSafe works.
For a personal check without buying a device: 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.
What no count can tell you
No rakı count, calculator or test result tells you that you are fit to drive. Alcohol affects reaction and judgement below the legal limit too, and the Turkish Traffic Department states that there is no safe alcohol limit for driving (Turkish Traffic Department). If you have been drinking, do not drive. Take a taxi, public transport or a driver who has not been drinking.
Frequently asked questions
Does one double rakı raise your blood alcohol?
Yes. In the Widmark model, one 80 ml double at 45% gives each of our three example adults a peak of at least 0.38‰ (0.38–1.11‰ depending on the person), above the 0.20‰ limit. Those are estimates; the real value depends on weight, body water, food and time.
How much promille is rakı?
It depends on the amount and the person. In the model, a 40 ml single at 45% gives about 0.19–0.56‰ and an 80 ml double about 0.38–1.11‰ across our three example adults. The blood alcohol calculator shows the range for your own pour.
How much promille is one glass of rakı?
A glass (kadeh) is not a measure. If it holds a single (40 ml at 45%), the model gives about 0.19–0.56‰ across our example adults; if it holds a double (80 ml), about 0.38–1.11‰. Count the millilitres of rakı in the glass, not the glass.
How many double rakı is 0.50 promille?
There is no fixed number. In the model, one 80 ml double gives a 60 kg woman 0.64–1.11‰, entirely above 0.50‰, and the ranges of a 70 kg and a 90 kg man both span 0.50‰. The same count means different concentrations in different bodies, and no count guarantees that you stay under the limit.
How many rakı is 0.20 promille?
There is no fixed number. One double lies above 0.20‰ for all three example people, and so does even a 50 ml double. A single’s range spans 0.20‰ for a 90 kg man and lies above it for the other two. For drivers of vehicles other than private cars and for novice drivers, one glass can pass the limit.
How much promille are two double rakı?
In the model, two 80 ml doubles give 0.76–1.09‰ for a 90 kg man, 0.97–1.40‰ for a 70 kg man and 1.29–2.21‰ for a 60 kg woman. All three ranges lie entirely above 0.50‰.
How much promille is whisky?
A 40 ml single whisky at 40% holds about 13 grams of alcohol, close to a single rakı. In the model it gives 0.16–0.25‰ for a 90 kg man, 0.21–0.32‰ for a 70 kg man and 0.28–0.49‰ for a 60 kg woman, so for drivers held to 0.20‰ even one single whisky can pass the limit. A double doubles the alcohol. Your pour may differ; enter it in the blood alcohol calculator.
How much promille is a 50 cl bottle of rakı?
A 50 cl bottle at 45% holds about 178 grams of alcohol, roughly six 80 ml doubles. In the model, that amount lies far above 1.00‰ for every example person, the level at which criminal law applies on top of the fine.
Does water in rakı lower promille?
No. Water changes the volume and the taste, not the grams of alcohol. A double topped up with water holds the same 28 grams as a neat one.
Can one double rakı get you fined or cost your licence?
It depends on the measured value and your licence, not on the number of glasses. Private car drivers face penalties above 0.50‰; other drivers and novice drivers above 0.20‰, which one double passes for all three example people in the model. See limits and fines in Turkey.
How much promille does the body remove per hour?
Blood alcohol falls by roughly 0.10–0.20‰ per hour, often near 0.15 (Jones 2010). The rate varies between people and absorption can take up to two hours, so this rate cannot tell you when you can drive. More in how long alcohol stays in your system.
About this guide
This guide was written from the sources listed below, checked on 7 October 2026. The promille ranges are our own calculations with the published Widmark model and the distribution volumes of ANSI/ASB 122, the same model our calculator and our beer guide use. Serving sizes follow the Üsküdar University guide and the Turkish dictionary; legal limits follow the Turkish Traffic Department and the current text of Law 2918.
Disclaimer
AlkoSafe is a personal screening and self-check product. It does not replace an official breath test, a blood test, medical advice, employer rules or traffic law. A test result does not prove that you are free of alcohol or legally fit to drive. If you have been drinking, feel tired or unwell, or are unsure, do not drive.
Sources
Official
- Turkish Traffic Department (EGM Trafik Başkanlığı), Alkollü Araç Kullanımı: https://trafik.gov.tr/alkollu-arac-kullanimi
- Law 2918 on Road Traffic, current text (art. 48, Additional Article 17): https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuatmetin/1.5.2918.pdf
- Türk Gıda Kodeksi Distile Alkollü İçkiler Tebliği (No. 2016/55), Annex 1 (rakı and whisky minimum 40% alcohol), Resmî Gazete 21 March 2017: https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2017/03/20170321-11.htm
- TDK Güncel Türkçe Sözlük, “duble”: https://sozluk.gov.tr/
- ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 122, final 2024 (distribution volumes §4.1.3.2, absorption §4.1.2): https://www.aafs.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/122_BPR_e1.pdf
Studies
- Maskell PD et al. Population ranges for the volume of distribution (Vd) of alcohol for use in forensic alcohol calculations. J Forensic Sci. 2023. DOI 10.1111/1556-4029.15317. https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/301086/1/301086.pdf
- Searle J. Alcohol calculations and their uncertainty. Med Sci Law. 2015;55(1):58–64. PMID 24644224. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0025802414524385
- Jones AW, Jönsson KA. Food-induced lowering of blood-ethanol profiles and increased rate of elimination immediately after a meal. J Forensic Sci. 1994. PMID 8064267
- Jones AW. Evidence-based survey of the elimination rates of ethanol from blood with applications in forensic casework. Forensic Sci Int. 2010. PMID 20304569
- Jones AW. Distribution of ethanol between saliva and blood in man. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1979. PMID 761427
- Eryılmaz G, Dilbaz N. Alkol Kullanım Bozukluğu Tanısı Konulmuş Hastaların Aileleri İçin Rehber. Üsküdar University Press (serving sizes, p. 20). https://uuyayinlari.com/download/77
Manufacturer
- AlkoSafe product page (detection threshold 0.20‰): https://alkosafe.com/alkosafe/
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AlkoSafe saliva alcohol test
For a personal check without buying a device: 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.
