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You’ve probably heard or read about this idea of a “standard” drink. Referring to a standard drink is just a way of making sure that when we talk about having a beer or a glass of wine or a shot, we’re talking about the same amount of alcohol. In the United States, a standard drink is any drink that has 0.6 ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol (AKA ethanol).
Interesting how different drink sizes all equal the same amount of pure alcohol, right? This is because the alcohol content, or alcohol-by-volume (ABV), of each drink type is really different.
Most beers have an alcohol content of around 5%, wine about 12%, and liquor a whopping 40%. That’s why shots are so small! But the actual alcohol content for whatever drink you’re having can also be different depending on the brand and type of drink.
In the United States, a “standard” drink is any drink that has 0.6 ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol. Here are examples of different drink types (beer, wine, liquor) and their “standard” drink sizes.
You’ve probably heard or read about this idea of a “standard” drink. Referring to a standard drink is just a way of making sure that when we talk about having a beer or a glass of wine or a shot, we’re talking about the same amount of alcohol. In the United States, a standard drink is any drink that has 0.6 ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol (AKA ethanol).
In the United States, a “standard” drink is any drink that has 0.6 ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol. Here are examples of different drink types (beer, wine, liquor) and their “standard” drink sizes.
Interesting how different drink sizes all equal the same amount of pure alcohol, right? This is because the alcohol content, or alcohol-by-volume (ABV), of each drink type is really different.
Most beers have an alcohol content of around 5%, wine about 12%, and liquor a whopping 40%. That’s why shots are so small! But the actual alcohol content for whatever drink you’re having can also be different depending on the brand and type of drink.
It makes a big difference in how much you’re drinking. Let’s say you have a regular 12oz bottle of fancy craft beer, like Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA. That craft beer has an alcohol content of 7.2%. At that level of alcohol, you’re having nearly 1.5 times as much alcohol as a “standard” drink of beer, even though you’ve only had one bottle of beer. Yikes!
In our research we found cocktails you get at bars are often more than just one “standard” drink (read study here). Maybe you know the bartender and she wants to be nice to you by giving you an extra splash in your drink. That’s nice of her to be nice to you! But it’s also why it’s a good idea to assume, when you’re out drinking, that each cocktail you have is actually at least 1 and a half “standard” drinks.
Pay attention to how much you’re drinking. It isn’t just about counting the number of “drinks” you have, but also about noticing the alcohol content of whatever you’re drinking. If the alcohol content is even just a couple percentage points higher or lower than the “standard”, it makes a difference in how much alcohol you’re getting.
Next time you’re at the grocery store, or out with friends, or enjoying a drink at home, check the label. Alcohol producers have to list the alcohol content, or ABV, on every bottle.
