Standard Size Drink Comparison (2024)

With permission from Loyola Marymount University's Head’s UP! Program:

It is important to know the definition of one standard drink. This is because certain drinks may be stronger than others. This is especially important with mixed drinks, as many mixed drinks (even though you are only holding one cup) contain more than one standard drink.

Below you will find the typical standard drinks of a 12 oz. beer, a 4 oz. glass of wine, and a 1.25 oz. shot of hard liquor. You will also find how drinks measure up in the well-known “keg cup.”

One Standard Drink of Beer

  • One 12 oz. bottle of beer
  • One 12 oz. can of beer
  • One 8 oz. glass of malt liquor (i.e. Old English, Mickey’s)
  • One “forty” of malt liquor is about 5 standard drinks
  • One “forty” of regular beer is about 3 ½ standard drinks

One Standard Drink of Wine

  • One 4 oz. glass of wine
  • One 3 - 3.5 oz. of fortified wine (i.e. port, sherry)
  • One bottle of table wine is about 5 standard drinks

One Standard Drink of Hard Alcohol

  • One 1.25 oz. shot of hard liquor
  • One mixed drink containing one 1.25 oz. shot of hard liquor
  • One 750ml bottle of hard liquor ("a fifth") is about 17 standard drinks

Standard drinks in some popular co*cktails that contain more than one shot:

  • One Long Island Iced Tea is about 4 standard drinks
  • One “Adios” is about 5 standard drinks
  • One Martini is about 2 standard drinks
  • One Margarita is about 1.5 standard drinks

One Standard Drink in a 16 oz. "keg cup"

  • 3 full keg cups of beer is about 4 standard drinks
  • 6 full keg cups of beer is about 8 standard drinks
  • 9 full keg cups of beer is about 12 standard drinks
  • Keg cup filled with wine is about 4 standard drinks
  • Keg cup filled with one mixed drink can be more than one or two standard drinks depending on how many shots you put into it. Remember that one 1.25 oz. shot is one standard drinks.
  • When mixing your own drinks at home, be mindful of how many shots (standard drinks) you pour into one cup.

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Standard Size Drink Comparison (2024)

FAQs

What is a standard drink comparison? ›

In the United States, one "standard" drink (or one alcoholic drink equivalent) contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in: 12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about 5% alcohol. 5 ounces of wine, which is typically about 12% alcohol. 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40% alcohol.

How many standard drinks is enough? ›

If you're a healthy adult: To reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury, healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day.

What are the standard drink amounts group of answer choices? ›

Drink Equivalencies

A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, four ounces of wine or 1-1/4 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits.

What is a standard sized drink? ›

A standard drink (SD) is any drink that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol (about 0.6 fluid ounces). Below are different standard drink equivalents for different alcoholic beverages.

What's equivalent to a standard drink? ›

Standard drinks are a way to measure how much alcohol you drink. Drinks come in different sizes and some are stronger than others. They have different amounts of alcohol in them. A standard drink is always equal to 10 g of pure alcohol.

How do you determine standard drink size? ›

Magic Formula is # ml x alcohol % divided by 17 = Total # standard drinks. Learn more about Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health 2022.

How much drink is enough? ›

Most healthy people can stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel thirsty. For some people, fewer than eight glasses a day might be enough. But other people might need more.

How many drinks is OK per day? ›

According to the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture , adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women, ...

Is 2 beers a day bad? ›

Drinking one or two standard beers per day (12 ounces or 355 mL) may have positive effects for your heart, bones, blood sugars, and dementia risk. But too much drinking raises your risk of many health issues, including depression, weight gain, and liver disease.

What is a standard drink number? ›

Wine (9.5% to 13% alcohol)
ContainerAmountStandard drinks
1 standard serve100ml1 standard drink
1 average serve150ml1.6 standard drinks
1 bottle750ml7 to 8 standard drinks

What is the purpose of standard drink measurement? ›

The purpose of a standard drink measurement is:

It is a consistent way of measuring the amount of alcohol in a drink.

How many standard drinks can I have? ›

Low-risk drinking advice

To reduce long-term health risks, have at least two alcohol-free days each week and drink no more than: Two standard drinks a day for women. Three standard drinks a day for men.

What is the average standard drink? ›

a pot of full-strength beer has 1.1 standard drinks. a 375ml stubby of full-strength beer is around 1.4 standard drinks. an average glass of white wine (150mls) has 1.4 standard drinks. an average glass of red wine (150mls) has 1.6 standard drinks.

What is a standard size drink will always contain? ›

In the United States, a “standard drink” (also known as an alcoholic drink equivalent) is defined as any beverage containing 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol.

Is 4 standard drinks enough? ›

The new guidelines warn that adults should have ``no more than 10 standard drinks per week'' to reduce the health risks from alcohol, or roughly 1.4 drinks a day. The maximum an adult should have on a single day is four standard drinks.

Which of the following is generally equivalent to a standard drink? ›

A standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol regardless of the size of the container (glass, bottle, can) or type of alcohol (beer, wine, spirit). 30 ml spirits = 1 standard drink.

What is a standard drink used to measure? ›

A standard drink is used to show how much alcohol is in a drink regardless of the percentage. In Aotearoa, a standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. Every can, bottle, or cask of alcohol must have a label that tells us how many standard drinks are inside them.

What is one drink or a standard drink? ›

A standard drink has 13.45 grams (g) of alcohol, regardless of the kind of drink you're having. For example, a 142 millilitre (ml) glass of wine and a 341 ml glass of beer both have about 13.45 g of alcohol. So, they're each equal to one standard drink.

What strength is a standard drink? ›

A standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. One standard drink is contained in a small 100ml glass of red wine, a can or bottle (375ml) of mid- strength beer, or a shot or nip (30ml) of spirits. See over the page for more information about common serves of alcohol.

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