Penn State Safe & Aware

Alcohol By Volume (ABV)

Different brands and types of beverages vary in their actual alcohol content, measured as the percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV).

Image depicting one standard drink is equal to 12 fluid ounces of regular beer, 8 to 9 fluid ounces of malt liquor, 5 fluid ounces of table wine, or 1.5 fluid ounce shots of distilled spirits such as rum, gin, tequila, vodka, whiskey, etc.) Each beverage portrayed in the image represents one standard drink of "pure" alcohol, defined in the United States as 0.6 fluid ounces of 14 grams. The percent of pure alcohol, expressed her as alcohol by volume (alc/vol), varies within and across beverage types. Although the standard drink amounts are helpful for following health guidelines, they may not reflect customary serving sizes.

Look closely at the image above. A beer is a beer, right?

Not exactly. Most domestic beers are 5% ABV. Malt liquors are brewed to have higher alcohol content and usually range from 7-9% ABV. This is why a standard drink of malt liquor is 8 fluid ounces (237 mL) instead of 12 fluid ounces (355 mL) of a regular domestic beer.

Craft beers can vary from less than 5% to greater than 14% ABV! Federal law requires that liquor labels must state the percentage of ABV, but labeling guidelines for beer and wine can vary by state.

What does "proof" mean?

In the United States, alcohol proof is defined as twice the percentage of ABV. So, a spirit that is 80 proof is 40% ABV.

What about mixed drinks and pre-made mixtures of liquor and juice?

You might be offered a mixed drink or cup of spiked punch or juice at a party. Unless you make it yourself, it is impossible to know how much alcohol (or what else) is in it. This makes it potentially dangerous and difficult to determine how many standard drinks you have consumed.

What about new “Ready to Drink” products?

Be aware that many “Ready to Drink”’ products contain more than one standard drink and can have high ABV percentages. There is also a lot of variation among these products. For example:

  • One product that is just 6.5 fluid ounces (200 ML) is 15% ABV. It contains approximately 1.6 standard drinks.
  • Another product is 23.5 fluid ounces with 12% ABV and contains 4.7 standard drinks.
Next: How alcohol leaves the body