Drink & alcohol guides by topic

Every Drink Buddy guide in one place, grouped by topic. Each one is written by the Trendy Publishing editorial team, lists its sources and is general information only.

Drink-driving limits & the law · Standard drinks & guidelines · BAC & how alcohol affects you · Hangovers · Alcohol, medications & conditions · Alcohol & your body · Occasions & cutting back

Drink-driving limits & the law

Legal BAC limits around Australia and the world, breath testing and driving the morning after.

• The drink driving limit in Australia
  The drink driving limit in Australia is 0.05 for full-licence drivers and zero for learners and P-platers. See the limits, penalties and how many drinks it takes.
• Can I drive the morning after drinking?
  Slept it off? You could still be over 0.05 the morning after drinking. How your body clears alcohol overnight, the maths, and when it's safe to drive.
• How do breathalysers work?
  How a breathalyser turns your breath into a BAC reading, the 2100:1 breath-to-blood ratio, fuel cell vs sensor devices, why nothing beats a test, and how RBT works in Australia.
• Can you drink and drive a boat in Australia?
  Can you drink and drive a boat? In most of Australia the skipper must stay under 0.05 BAC — the same as the road. The state-by-state limits, on-water testing and risks.
• What's the legal BAC limit for driving in the US?
  The drunk-driving limit is 0.08% BAC in every US state except Utah, where it's 0.05%. See the limits for commercial and under-21 drivers, and what 0.08 feels like.
• What's the legal blood alcohol limit in Canada?
  Canada's criminal blood alcohol limit is 0.08, but most provinces penalize drivers from 0.05 — and Saskatchewan from 0.04. See the limits, fines and zero-tolerance rules.
• What's the drink-driving limit in New Zealand?
  New Zealand's drink-driving limit is 250mcg of alcohol per litre of breath (50mg blood) for drivers 20+, and zero under 20. See the penalties at each level.
• UK alcohol units explained: how many is too many?
  One UK unit is 10ml of pure alcohol — and a large glass of wine is three of them. How to count units, the 14-a-week guideline and drink-drive limits.
• What's the drink-driving limit in the UK?
  The UK drink-driving limit is 80mg/100ml blood (0.08%) in England, Wales and NI, but 50mg (0.05%) in Scotland. The breath figures, the penalties, and what it means for Aussie drivers.
• What's the drink-driving limit in Ireland?
  Ireland's drink-driving limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (0.05%) for experienced drivers, and 20mg for learners, novices and professional drivers.
• What's the drink-driving limit in Germany?
  Germany's drink-driving limit is 0.5‰ (0.05% BAC) — but zero for new and professional drivers, and 0.3‰ can still be an offence. The limits, fines and traveller tips.
• Drink-driving limits in Europe: a country-by-country guide
  Drink-driving limits across Europe by country: most are 0.05 like Australia, several are zero-tolerance, and the UK sits at 0.08. Here's the full guide for travellers.
• What's the drink-driving limit in Japan?
  Japan's drink-driving limit is 0.03% BAC (0.15 mg/L breath) — one of the world's strictest. Penalties, passenger rules, and what it means for Aussie drivers.
• What's the drink driving limit in Thailand?
  Thailand's drink-driving limit is 0.05%, dropping to 0.02% for newer drivers — with fines, jail and deportation at stake. What Aussie travellers must know.
• What's the drink-driving limit in Dubai and the UAE?
  Dubai and the UAE have zero tolerance on drink-driving — any alcohol at all while driving can mean jail, a heavy fine, a one-year licence ban and deportation.

Standard drinks & guidelines

How many standard drinks are in what you pour, and how that stacks up against the guidelines.

• Standard drinks calculator (Australia)
  Free Australian standard drinks calculator. Enter any drink's size and alcohol percentage to see exactly how many standard drinks it contains, plus a chart of common Aussie drinks.
• Australian alcohol guidelines: how much is actually 'safe'?
  Australia's NHMRC guidelines: no more than 10 standard drinks a week and 4 on any day. What the numbers mean, where they come from, and how to stay under them.
• How many standard drinks are in a beer?
  A schooner of full-strength beer is about 1.6 Australian standard drinks — not one. Here's a table by size and strength, the formula, and what it means.
• How many standard drinks are in a bottle of wine?
  A 750ml bottle of wine holds about 7–8 Australian standard drinks — often more. Here's the simple formula, a table by ABV, and what it means for the guidelines.
• How many standard drinks are in a cask of wine?
  A 4-litre cask of wine holds about 36 to 43 Australian standard drinks — roughly a month of the weekly guideline. The formula, a table by size, and the goon trap.
• How many standard drinks are in a glass of champagne?
  A 750ml bottle of champagne or sparkling wine is about 7 standard drinks, and a topped-up flute is over one. The formula, a table by type, and the top-up trap.
• How many standard drinks are in a shot of spirits?
  A 30ml nip of spirits is about 1 Australian standard drink — but a home pour or a double is often 1.5 to 2. Here's a table by measure and strength, plus the formula.
• How many standard drinks in a cocktail?
  That espresso martini is nearly two standard drinks. See how many standard drinks are in margaritas, negronis and more — plus the formula to work it out yourself.
• Oktoberfest standard drinks: how many are really in a stein?
  A one-litre Oktoberfest stein is nearly 5 Australian standard drinks — more than a whole day's limit in a single mug. The standard-drink maths and how to pace it.
• Does non-alcoholic beer have alcohol?
  Non-alcoholic beer can legally contain up to 0.5% alcohol in Australia. What that means for driving, pregnancy and how it compares to a standard drink.
• Calories in alcohol: beer, wine and spirits compared
  Alcohol packs 29 kJ per gram — nearly as much as fat. See how many kilojoules are in beer, wine, spirits and premixes, and easy ways to cut back.

BAC & how alcohol affects you

Blood alcohol, how fast it clears, and why the same drinks hit different people differently.

• How long until my BAC is zero?
  Your body clears roughly 0.015% BAC per hour — about one standard drink an hour. Use our free calculator to estimate how long until your BAC returns to zero, and why nothing speeds it up.
• Blood alcohol levels: what each BAC actually means
  What happens to your body at each blood alcohol level — from 0.02 to over 0.30. A clear guide to BAC effects, and why impairment starts well below 0.05.
• How long does alcohol stay in your system?
  How long alcohol stays in your body depends on the test: breath and blood clear in hours, urine EtG tests up to 3–4 days, hair up to 90 days. Full guide.
• Does coffee sober you up?
  Coffee can't sober you up — it makes you feel alert while your blood alcohol stays exactly the same. Here's the science, and why a 'wide awake drunk' is dangerous.
• Can you sweat out alcohol?
  Can you sweat out alcohol in a sauna or at the gym? No — your liver does about 90% of the work and only time lowers your BAC. Here's the science, and why heat is risky.
• Drinking on an empty stomach: why it hits harder
  Drinking on an empty stomach can push your peak BAC far higher than eating first. Here's the science of how food slows alcohol absorption — and what it can't do.
• Does mixing drinks make you more drunk?
  Beer before liquor, never been sicker? The science says the order and type of drinks barely matter — it's the total alcohol that gets you drunk and hungover.
• Does alcohol tolerance build up? How it works
  Alcohol tolerance changes how drunk you feel — not your blood alcohol level or your reaction times. Here's how tolerance builds, why it fools you, and what it means.
• Why alcohol affects women differently to men
  The same drinks leave a woman with a higher blood alcohol level than a man. Here's the biology — body water and a key enzyme — and what it means for you.
• Does alcohol affect you more as you age?
  As you get older the same drinks hit harder — lower body water, a slower liver and medications all raise your risk. Here's why, and how to drink more safely.
• Does alcohol affect you more on a plane?
  Altitude doesn't raise your blood alcohol — but low cabin oxygen, dry air and fatigue make in-flight drinks feel stronger. Here's what really happens.
• Alcohol blackouts: why you can't remember drinking
  Blackouts aren't passing out — your brain simply stops recording memories. Why they happen, the BAC where they start, who's most at risk, and how to avoid them.
• Signs of alcohol poisoning: when to call 000
  Know the warning signs of alcohol poisoning — confusion, vomiting, slow or irregular breathing, cold or blue skin, can't be woken. What to do while you wait for an ambulance.

Hangovers

What causes hangovers, how long they last and what actually helps.

• How long does a hangover last? The science explained
  Most hangovers last up to 24 hours, peaking as your BAC hits zero. Here's the science of what causes them, why some are worse — and what actually helps.
• How to avoid a hangover
  The only sure way to avoid a hangover is to drink less — but eating first, pacing your drinks and alternating with water lowers the odds. What actually works.
• Does hair of the dog actually cure a hangover?
  Drinking more alcohol to fix a hangover only postpones it. Here's the science behind 'hair of the dog', why it feels like it works, and what actually helps.
• Why does alcohol give me a headache?
  Alcohol headaches come in two forms — one within hours of drinking, one the next morning. Here's what causes them, why red wine is the worst, and how to avoid them.
• Does alcohol dehydrate you?
  Yes — alcohol is a diuretic that makes you pee more by suppressing vasopressin. The science, how much fluid you lose, and how to stay hydrated.
• Why does alcohol upset my stomach?
  Nausea, heartburn and the next-day runs — alcohol irritates your whole gut. Here's why alcohol upsets your stomach, from acid to gut bacteria, and how to settle it.

Alcohol, medications & conditions

How alcohol interacts with common medications and health conditions.

• Can you drink alcohol on antidepressants?
  Mixing alcohol and antidepressants can worsen depression, add drowsiness and blunt your medication. The real risks, the riskiest combinations, and what to do.
• Can you drink alcohol on antibiotics?
  Can you drink alcohol on antibiotics? For most it's fine in moderation — but metronidazole, tinidazole and Bactrim are a hard no. An Australian guide.
• Alcohol and anxiety: why the day after feels so bad
  Why does alcohol make anxiety worse the next day? The GABA-glutamate rebound behind 'hangxiety', how long it lasts, and practical ways to feel steadier.
• Does alcohol raise blood sugar?
  Alcohol can spike your blood sugar then crash it — sugary mixers push it up, but alcohol itself lowers it and can trigger a hypo hours later. Here's how it works.
• Alcohol and gout: why beer triggers flare-ups
  Alcohol, especially beer, raises uric acid and can trigger painful gout flares. How drinking affects gout, which drinks are worst, and how to cut your risk.
• Does alcohol raise blood pressure?
  Yes — drinking raises blood pressure, and the effect builds with every extra drink. Here's how alcohol affects your BP, the numbers behind it, and how cutting back helps.
• Can alcohol cause heart palpitations?
  Yes — even one big night can set your heart racing. Here's how alcohol triggers palpitations and 'holiday heart' atrial fibrillation, who's at risk, and when to see a doctor.
• Does alcohol thin your blood?
  Alcohol has a mild, short-lived blood-thinning effect — but heavy drinking flips it, and it's no substitute for medication. Here's what the science really says.
• Mixing alcohol and energy drinks: what really happens
  Mixing alcohol and energy drinks won't lower your BAC or sober you up. The caffeine can leave you feeling wide awake while you're still fully impaired.
• Why does alcohol make my face red?
  That red face after a drink is the alcohol flush reaction — a build-up of acetaldehyde your body can't clear fast enough. Here's what causes it and why it matters.

Alcohol & your body

What drinking does to your sleep, organs, brain, skin and weight over time.

• Alcohol and sleep: why a nightcap wrecks your rest
  A nightcap feels relaxing, but alcohol suppresses REM sleep and fragments the second half of your night. Here's the science — and how to sleep better.
• Alcohol and exercise: does it kill your gains?
  Alcohol can cut post-workout muscle protein synthesis by up to a third, dehydrate you and disrupt recovery sleep. Here's how drinking affects your training — and how to limit the damage.
• How alcohol affects the liver
  Your liver processes about one standard drink an hour — drink faster and damage begins. How alcohol harms the liver, the three stages, and what's reversible.
• Does alcohol affect your kidneys?
  Yes — alcohol dehydrates you, raises blood pressure and makes your kidneys work harder, and heavy drinking roughly doubles kidney-disease risk. Here's how.
• Does alcohol kill brain cells?
  No, alcohol doesn't kill brain cells the way the myth claims — but it still harms your brain. Here's what drinking really does, and what recovers when you stop.
• Does alcohol weaken your immune system?
  Yes — drinking, and especially a big night, weakens your immune defences for up to 24 hours and makes infections more likely. Here's how alcohol does it.
• Does alcohol cause cancer?
  Yes — alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen linked to at least seven cancers. How it damages your cells, which cancers, and why there's no safe level.
• Does alcohol age your skin?
  Yes — alcohol dehydrates skin, widens facial blood vessels and is linked to premature ageing. What drinking does to your skin, and what reverses if you cut down.
• Does alcohol make you gain weight?
  Yes, alcohol can drive weight gain — it's high in kilojoules and pauses fat burning. How it happens, the beer-belly link, and how cutting back helps.
• Is red wine good for you?
  Red wine's health halo is fading. What resveratrol, the French paradox and the latest research really say — plus what the WHO and Australian guidelines advise.

Occasions & cutting back

Pacing yourself at weddings, races, festivals and parties, plus taking a break from drinking.

• How to pace your drinks at a wedding (without missing the fun)
  Weddings can mean 10+ hours of free-flowing drinks. A practical pacing plan — champagne maths, the top-up trap, toasts, and getting home safely.
• How to pace yourself at the work Christmas party
  The work Christmas party is all free drinks and open bars. A practical pacing plan — standard-drink maths, the open-bar trap, and getting home safely this silly season.
• How to drink safely at a music festival
  Heat, long days and easy rounds make festivals hard on drinkers. How to pace yourself, stay hydrated and count standard drinks so you last until the headliner.
• How to pace your drinks at the footy
  Full-strength beer is back at the footy — and stadium cups are bigger than a stubby. A standard-drink guide to game day, pacing tips and getting home safe.
• Drinking at the races: how to pace a big race day
  Spring racing carnival is here. See how many standard drinks are really in a glass of champagne or a beer cup, how to pace a long race day and get home safe.
• Drinking at a BBQ: how many standard drinks, and how to pace yourself
  Backyard stubbies, generous wine pours and an all-day grazing session add up fast. A standard-drink guide to the BBQ, pacing tips and getting home safely.
• Does alcohol affect you more in the heat?
  Heat and alcohol both dehydrate you and both blunt your body's temperature control. Why drinking in hot weather hits harder, the real risks, and how to stay safe.
• Drinking in Bali: how to stay safe, spot methanol, and know the law
  Heading to Bali? Methanol in bootleg spirits can be fatal. How to drink safely — spot dodgy drinks, count your Bintang standard drinks, and know the law.
• How to cut down on drinking
  Practical ways to cut down on alcohol — set a limit, pace yourself, alternate with water and plan alcohol-free days. Australian tips to drink less.
• How to track your drinks during Dry July (and make it stick)
  Doing Dry July? Here's how tracking your drinks — before, during and after the month — makes your alcohol-free July stick, plus what to do about Golden Tickets and slip-ups.
• Ocsober 2026: what a month off alcohol actually does to your body
  Ocsober 2026 is a month off alcohol for a good cause. Here's what 31 dry days do to your sleep, weight, blood pressure and liver — and how to make it stick.