What Is a Standard Drink?


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What Is a Standard Drink?

A standard drink is any drink that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol (about 0.6 fluid ounces or 1.2 tablespoons). Below are standard drink equivalents as well as the number of standard drinks in different container sizes for each beverage. These are approximate, as different brands and types of beverages vary in their actual alcohol content.

	STANDARD DRINK EQUIVALENTS	APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF STANDARD DRINKS IN:

BEER or COOLER
12 oz. ~5% alcohol		12 oz. = 1 16 oz. = 1.3 22 oz. = 2 40 oz. = 3.3
MALT LIQUOR
8-9 oz. ~7% alcohol		12 oz. = 1.5 16 oz. = 2 22 oz. = 2.5 40 oz. = 4.5
TABLE WINE
5 oz. ~12% alcohol		a 750 mL (25 oz.) bottle = 5
80-proof SPIRITS (hard liquor)
1.5 oz. ~40% alcohol		a mixed drink = 1 or more* a pint (16 oz.) = 11 a fifth (25 oz.) = 17 1.75 L (59 oz.) = 39 *Note: Depending on factors such as the type of spirits and the recipe, one mixed drink can contain from one to three or more standard drinks.

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