What is “a drink”?



A drink can come in many forms. It can be a shot of hard liquor or a mixed drink containing vodka, rum, tequila, gin, scotch, etc. It can also be wine, a wine cooler, beer, or malt liquor.

A standard drink is any drink that contains about 14 grams of pure (about 0.6 fluid ounces or 1.2 tablespoons). This is the amount of alcohol usually found in one 12-ounce beer, one 4- to 5-ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5-ounce shot of 80 proof liquor

What's a Standard Drink?

Standard drink sizes and volumes for various alcohols

But not all drinks are standard drinks. In fact, different drinks often have different amounts of alcohol. Mixed drinks may contain more than one shot of liquor, and different beers or wines may not have the same amount of alcohol in them, even when the drinks are the same size. For example, some beers and beer products, like “ice” beers, and malt liquors, and some wines, have more alcohol than others.