Beer, wine, and hard liquor (distilled spirits) all contain alcohol.
The following common alcoholic drinks contain equal amounts of alcohol and are
often referred to as a drink or a standard drink:
- One
12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle of
beer or wine cooler
- One
5 fl oz (148 mL) glass of
wine
- One mixed drink containing
1.5 fl oz (44 mL) of 80-proof
hard liquor, such as gin, whiskey, or rum
Proof is the amount of alcohol in hard liquor or distilled spirits.
The percentage of pure alcohol in the hard liquor is usually one-half the
proof. For example, a 100-proof liquor is about 50% pure alcohol. Thus, the
higher the proof, the more pure alcohol the hard liquor contains.
