What Is a Standard Drink?
A standard drink is a measure that normalizes the amount of pure alcohol across different beverages. Despite different glass sizes and alcohol concentrations, each standard drink contains approximately the same amount of ethanol.
In the United States, one standard drink contains approximately 14 grams (0.6 fluid ounces) of pure alcohol. Other countries use slightly different definitions.
US Standard Drink Equivalents
Each of the following is considered one standard drink in the US (approximately 14g of pure alcohol):
Regular Beer
12 fl oz (355 ml) at 5% ABV
Examples: Budweiser, Coors, Miller, most lagers
Table Wine
5 fl oz (148 ml) at 12% ABV
A typical restaurant pour. Note: many wines are 13–15% ABV
Distilled Spirits
1.5 fl oz (44 ml) at 40% ABV (80 proof)
Vodka, rum, gin, whiskey, tequila — a single shot
Standard Drink Sizes by Country
| Country | Pure Alcohol | Beer (5%) | Wine (12%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 14 g | 355 ml (12 oz) | 148 ml (5 oz) |
| United Kingdom | 8 g (1 unit) | ~200 ml | ~83 ml |
| Germany | ~12 g | 300 ml | 125 ml |
| Australia | 10 g | 250 ml | 100 ml |
| Canada | 13.6 g | 341 ml (12 oz) | 142 ml (5 oz) |
| Japan | 19.75 g | 500 ml | ~206 ml |
Common Mistakes
People often underestimate how much they drink because:
- Craft beers often contain 6–10% ABV — significantly more than 5%
- Wine glasses at home are often filled to 7–8 oz, not the standard 5 oz
- Cocktails may contain 2–3 standard drinks in a single glass
- Mixed drinks with sugary mixers mask the taste of alcohol, leading to faster consumption
Use our BAC calculator with the custom drink option to get a more accurate estimate based on actual volume and ABV.