What is a standard drink?
One standard drink is equivalent to a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a drink with one shot of liquor. If your drinks are larger or stronger, count them as more than one drink. Alcohol by volume (ABV) refers to the strength of the alcoholic beverage. For the following questions, please think about your drinking in the past year.
What counts as a drink?
Many people are surprised to learn what counts as a drink. The amount of liquid in your glass, can, or bottle does not necessarily match up to how much alcohol is actually in your drink. Different types of beer, wine, or malt liquor can have very different amounts of alcohol content.
What is considered moderate drinking?
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are intended to help individuals improve and maintain overall health and reduce chronic disease risk, moderate drinking is defined as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. 2
Do standard drink amounts reflect customary serving sizes?
Although the standard drink amounts are helpful for following health guidelines, they may not reflect customary serving sizes. In addition, while the alcohol concentrations listed above are typical, there is considerable variability in alcohol content within and across beverage type (e.g., beer, wine, and distilled spirits).
What is a Standard Drink?