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Alcohol equivalence refers to a system of standard drink sizes of various types of alcoholic beverages which contain an equivalent amount of alcohol per drink.
For example, in the United States the alcohol content for a standard drink is defined as 0.6 fluid ounce (17.7 ml) of alcohol. Thus, in the U.S. a standard drink consists of (a) a 12 ounce bottle or can of typical (5%) beer (b), a 5 ounce glass of typical (12%) wine, or (c) a 1.5 ounce shot of 80 proof (40%) liquor (either straight or in a mixed drink). However, the amount of alcohol that constitutes a standard drink varies widely by country.
The facts of alcohol beverage equivalence are emphasized as important to drinking in moderation and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), American Dietetic Association, National Consumers League, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), among others.
| Standard Drink Chart (US)[1] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Amount in ml | Amount in fl. oz. | Colloquial amount | Alcohol % by vol. | Alcohol in fl. oz. |
| 80 proof liquor | 44 ml | 1.5 fl. oz. | one shot | 40 | 0.6 fl. oz. |
| beer | 355 ml | 12 fl. oz. | one can | 5 | 0.6 fl. oz. |
| table wine | 148 ml | 5 fl. oz. | one glass | 12 | 0.6 fl. oz. |
Notes
- ^ Based on the CDC standard of 0.6 fl. oz. alcohol per drink. CDC alcohol FAQ
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- This page was last modified on 26 August 2008, at 04:30.
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