What is a Standard Drink?

It may seem obvious, but drinks with a higher alcohol content affect the way you think, feel and act more than drinks with less alcohol. And those effects don’t just go for when you’re drinking, multiple day hangovers do exist! Rather than making morning drills harder than they need to be, understand how much alcohol is in that drink you love and stick to your limit. Download a PDF version [PDF 1MB] of this infographic.

Know What a Standard Drink is

Beer, wine and liquor all have different amounts of alcohol in them, which is why standard drinks comes in various sizes. Click through each beverage below to find out what a “standard drink” looks like.

12oz of beer 5% alcohol

8oz of malt liquor 7% alcohol

5oz of wine 12% alcohol

1.5oz or a “shot” of
80-proof spirits or liquor 40% alcohol

Bottle of beer

Malt liquor

Glass of wine

"Shot" of liquor

Did you know?

A standard 16 oz plastic drinking cup can help you measure a “standard drink.” The lines on the cup show you how much to pour of beer, wine or liquor without overdoing it.

Be aware that one drink you order at the bar or make at home could be equal to two or three “standard drinks.” It depends on the type and amount of alcohol in the drink. 

The order of alcohol you drink (beer before liquor or liquor before beer) doesn't impact how hungover you'll be.

Everyone has a different drinking limit based on factors like age, weight, and gender. That’s why drinking the same amount as someone else can impact you differently.

What is a Standard Drink?

Know What a Standard Drink is

Share

Tags