The alcohol contents varies considerably between the different alcoholic beverages. Mixing of drinks further alters the alcohol contents depending on the degree of dilution.
100 proof alcoholic beverage = 50% ethanol by volume
Beer:
(1) The alcohol contents usually varies from 4.5 to 6.0% (9 to 12 proof).
(2) A standard serving is either 12 or 16 ounces.
Wine:
(1) The alcohol content from 9 to 14% (18 to 28 proof).
(2) A standard serving is 4 to 6 ounces.
Hard liquor:
(1) The alcohol content varies from 35 to 60% or more (70 to 120 proof).
(2) The alcohol content in drink varies on dilution.
(3) An unmixed serving is 1 to 2 ounces.
Beverage
Standard Drink in Ounces
Beer, 5%
12 ounces
Wine, 12%
5 ounces
Liquor, 80 proof
1.5 ounces (1 jigger)
Liquor, 100 proof
1.2 ounce
(all of these work out to about 0.6 ounces of 100% alcohol; there are 17 jiggers in a fifth of 80 proof liquor)
Alternatively, some people use a standard drink as 1 ounce of 50% alcohol (100 proof) = 0.5 ounce of 100% alcohol. This would reduce the standard drink for beer to 10 ounces, wine to 4 ounces and 80 proof liquor to 1.25 ounces.
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