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Alcohol

Alcohol can take a serious toll on your health—in both the short-term and the long-term.

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What Counts as “One Drink”?

In the U.S., a standard alcoholic drink contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:

  • 12 ounces of regular beer (about 5% alcohol)
  • 5 ounces of wine (about 12% alcohol)
  • 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (about 40% alcohol)

Learn More About Drinking Levels

What’s a standard drink?

  • 12 ounces of beer
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor

What’s the alcohol percentage in a standard drink?

  • 5% alcohol: 12 fluid ounces of regular beer
  • 7% alcohol: 8–9 fluid ounces of malt liquor
  • 12% alcohol: 5 fluid ounces of table wine
  • 24% alcohol: 2–3 fluid ounces of cordial or liqueur
  • 40% alcohol: 1.5 fluid ounces of brandy or cognac
  • 40% alcohol: 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor
Alcohol facts graphic