Addiction Services
Alcohol
What Is a Standard Drink?
A standard drink has the same amount of alcohol (17ml or 0.6oz.) no matter what kind of drink it is. For example, each of the following is equal to one standard drink:
- Regular beer 340ml/12 oz. 5% alcohol
- Light beer 426ml/15 oz. 4% alcohol
- Spirits 43ml/1.5 oz. 40% alcohol
- Wine 142ml/5 oz. 13% alcohol
- Fortified wine 85ml/3 oz. 18% alcohol
- Coolers (wine and spirits) 340ml/12 oz. 5% alcohol
Your Gender Makes a Difference
There are physical differences from one sex to another and this makes a difference in how a drug will affect the body. For example, women's bodies have less water than men's. That means a woman's body cannot dilute alcohol the same way, so she will get drunker, faster. This is true even if the man and woman are the same size.
Your Age Makes a Difference
Older metabolisms are slower so the organs take longer to break down, process, and eliminate alcohol. If you are older, consider slowing your drinking pace.
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Page last updated 2011-07-12.