How Many Units Are in 4 Margaritas? A Guide to Calculating Alcohol Content

December 14, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the UK's alcohol unit guidelines, it's safest for both men and women to drink no more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. When it comes to cocktails like margaritas, the unit count isn't always obvious, leading many to underestimate their alcohol intake. A standard margarita can contain around 2 units of alcohol, meaning four could tally up to 8 units, potentially consuming most of a week's allowance.

Quick Summary

A standard margarita contains approximately 2 units of alcohol, totaling around 8 units for four drinks. The final unit count varies based on specific ingredients, serving size, and alcohol by volume (ABV), which can be calculated using a simple formula for mindful consumption.

Key Points

Unit Calculation: For a standard recipe, one margarita is approximately 2 units, making four margaritas around 8 units.
Ingredient Variability: The specific tequila and orange liqueur used (and their ABV) significantly impact the final unit count.
Dilution Effect: Frozen margaritas, or those with more mixers and ice, tend to have lower unit content due to dilution.
Pour Size: Margaritas from bars, or those with generous home pours, often contain more alcohol and, therefore, more units.
UK Guidelines: The UK recommends not exceeding 14 units per week, meaning four strong margaritas can consume a significant portion of this allowance.
Other Factors: Metabolism, body weight, and food intake also influence how your body processes the alcohol, regardless of the unit count.

Demystifying Alcohol Units in Margaritas

Understanding the alcohol content in cocktails like the margarita is essential for mindful consumption. The exact unit count is not fixed and varies based on the recipe, the strength of the spirits, and the pour size. In the UK, one unit is defined as 10ml of pure alcohol, calculated using a formula involving the drink's ABV and volume. For a standard margarita recipe, this calculation reveals that four drinks can contain a significant amount of alcohol, underscoring the importance of knowing what's in your glass.

Factors Influencing Margarita Unit Count

Several variables affect how many units are in your margarita. Knowing these factors allows for a more accurate calculation of your total intake:

Type of Tequila: Tequila's ABV typically ranges from 35% to 55%. Using a high-proof tequila will significantly increase the unit count compared to a lower-proof version.
Orange Liqueur: The strength of the orange liqueur (e.g., triple sec, Cointreau) also varies. Cointreau is 40% ABV, while some triple secs are lower, impacting the final unit total.
Pour Size: Whether you're making a cocktail at home or ordering at a bar, the pour size can differ dramatically. Home pours are often more generous than a bar's standard measure, increasing units.
Mixers and Dilution: Ingredients like lime juice, agave, or simple syrup contain no alcohol, but the amount used can change the overall ABV of the final drink. Blended or frozen margaritas with more ice typically have a lower ABV due to dilution.
Garnishes: While a salted rim or a lime wedge doesn't add units, they contribute to the overall experience and perception of strength.

How to Calculate Units in a Margarita

For a standard classic margarita, the unit calculation can be done by breaking down the alcoholic components. A common recipe might include 50ml of tequila (40% ABV) and 20ml of triple sec (20% ABV).

Calculate Tequila units: (Volume in ml x ABV%) / 1000 = units. For 50ml of 40% ABV tequila, this is (50 x 40) / 1000 = 2.0 units.
Calculate Triple Sec units: For 20ml of 20% ABV triple sec, this is (20 x 20) / 1000 = 0.4 units.
Sum the units: 2.0 (tequila) + 0.4 (triple sec) = 2.4 units per margarita.

Following this example, four of these margaritas would contain 9.6 units (2.4 x 4). This value serves as a useful benchmark for comparison.

Comparison Table: Units in Different Margarita Variations


Margarita Type	Example Recipe (approx.)	Units Per Drink (approx.)	Units in 4 Margaritas (approx.)
Classic / On the Rocks	50ml Tequila (40%), 20ml Triple Sec (20%), 25ml Lime	2.4 units	9.6 units
Tommy's Margarita	60ml Tequila (40%), 30ml Lime, 15ml Agave	2.4 units	9.6 units
Frozen Margarita	50ml Tequila (40%), 20ml Triple Sec (20%), mixers, ice blend	1.5 - 2.0 units	6.0 - 8.0 units
Restaurant-Sized	Often larger pours and higher ABV spirits used	2.5 - 4.0+ units	10 - 16+ units

The Importance of Mindful Consumption

Understanding the unit count helps drinkers stay within low-risk guidelines. The UK's Chief Medical Officers advise not regularly exceeding 14 units a week. Based on this, four average margaritas could represent a substantial portion of that weekly total. While the unit system is a helpful guide, it's not a precise measure for intoxication, as factors like body weight, metabolism, and food intake affect how alcohol is processed. For accurate, personalised advice on drinking habits, consulting a GP is recommended. For further reading on standard drink conversions, the UCLA Police Department offers a useful comparison.

Conclusion

While a single, absolute number is difficult to provide due to variations in ingredients and pour sizes, a reliable estimate is that four margaritas contain approximately 8 to 10 units. However, this number can easily increase for stronger restaurant-sized cocktails or higher-proof homemade versions. Knowing how to calculate units based on a cocktail's ABV and volume is key to making informed decisions and drinking responsibly. Always be mindful of your intake, particularly when consuming multiple mixed drinks, and consider factors that can increase the cocktail's overall strength.

Frequently Asked Questions

Using a typical recipe with 60ml of alcoholic ingredients (tequila and triple sec), one standard margarita contains approximately 2 units of alcohol.

No, the strength varies widely. Factors like the ABV of the tequila, the type of orange liqueur, and the pour size can all change the final alcohol content.

Restaurant margaritas often use larger pours and potentially higher-proof ingredients, which can result in a higher unit count than a standard homemade drink.

Typically, yes. The addition of ice during the blending process dilutes the drink, resulting in a lower alcohol by volume (ABV) and a lower unit count compared to a classic margarita on the rocks.

The formula for calculating units is: (Volume of drink in ml x ABV%) / 1000. You must calculate this for each alcoholic component and then add them together to get the total units.

For a typical margarita recipe with 50ml of 40% ABV tequila, the tequila contributes 2.0 units to the total. The total units include other alcoholic ingredients like triple sec.

In the UK, the Chief Medical Officers advise that men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week to keep health risks low.