How much you spend on alcohol

A beer at the pub, a glass of wine with dinner, a round with friends: one at a time they are small amounts, but added up over a year they become a significant expense. This calculator adds up the drinks you have at home and out, shows what you spend per month, per year and over ten years, and how much you would save by drinking less.

How the calculation works

• Weekly spend: drinks at home × cost of a drink at home, plus drinks out × price of a drink out.
• Annual spend: weekly spend × 52.18, the average number of weeks in a year.
• Saving: annual spend × the reduction you want to simulate.
• Share spent going out: the part of the spend that goes to bars, restaurants and venues.

For the cost of a drink at home, divide the bottle price by the glasses you get from it: a 75 cl bottle of wine gives about 5 glasses. Costs are in whatever currency you use.

Spend by drinks per week

What drinking less is worth

Example with 4 drinks at home at 2 and 3 out at 6, or 26 a week:

The reading bands

• Under 40% spent going out: most of the spend comes from what you drink at home.
• 40% to 70%: both drinks at home and drinks out make up a sizeable part.
• Over 70%: most of the spend is on drinks out, and that is where cutting back saves the most.

Beyond the wallet

The calculation only counts money. Health authorities in many countries advise limiting alcohol and having drink-free days: for health guidance, refer to your national guidelines and your doctor. If cutting back is hard, local health services offer free and confidential support.

Frequently asked questions

How much do I spend on alcohol a year?

With 4 drinks at home at 2 and 3 out at 6 each week, about 1,357 a year, or 113 a month.

How do I work out the cost of a drink at home?

Divide the bottle price by the glasses you get from it: a 75 cl bottle of wine gives about 5 glasses.

Why 52.18 weeks?

A year has 365.25 days on average, which is about 52.18 weeks.

Is it better to cut back at home or out?

Usually out, because each drink costs more: the calculator shows what share of the spend goes on drinks out.

How much do I save by halving?

Exactly half the annual spend: in the example above about 678 a year and almost 6,800 over ten years.

Does it include tips or taxis?

No: if you want to include them, add them to the average price of a drink out.

Does it work with any currency?

Yes: enter prices in your currency and the results will be in that currency.

Does the calculator say how much is too much?

No, it only calculates spending. For drinking limits, follow your country's health guidelines.