What Is a Standard Drink?

Question: What Is a Standard Drink?

Answer: In the United States, a standard drink is any alcoholic beverage that contains 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. That equals about 1.2 tablespoons of alcohol.

The following are generally considered one standard drink:

• 12 oz. of beer or wine cooler
  
• 8-9 oz. of malt liquor
  
• 5 oz. of table wine
  
• 3-4 oz. of fortified wine (sherry or port)
  
• 2-3 oz. of liqueur, cordial or apertif
  
• 1.5 oz. of brandy
  
• 1.5 oz. of spirits (whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.)

The above examples are approximate because many brands and types of alcoholic beverages vary in actual alcohol content. Check the label for percentage of alcohol content.

_{Source:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. What's a Standard Drink (PDF). Updated 2005.}