Health Topics

What's in Your Cup?

In the United States, one "standard" drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol.  These drinks are different sizes, but they all count as one standard drink:

  • 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol by volume)
  • 4-5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol by volume)
  • 1.5 ounces of 80-proof hard liquor (40% alcohol by volume)

Alcohol content can vary widely, so it's important to check the label when you're drinking something new.  A 151-proof bottle of spirits, for example, is 75% alcohol by volume.  Most alcohol containers list the alcohol content on the package.

Wondering how many drinks are in a 40?  In a fifth of gin? Visit the drink size calculator at http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov.

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