Which of the following represents the standard size of one drink?

• A. 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, 1.5 oz hard liquor
• B. 9 oz beer, 4 oz wine, 1 oz hard liquor
• C. 16 oz beer, 6 oz wine, 2 oz hard liquor
• D. 8 oz beer, 3 oz wine, 1 oz hard liquor

Answer: (A)

A standard drink contains about 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. When you look at typical alcohol strengths, the following volumes deliver roughly that amount: 12 ounces of beer at about 5% ABV, 5 ounces of wine at about 12% ABV, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits at about 40% ABV. That’s why these three pairings are considered standard drink sizes—they each contain about the same amount of ethanol.

The other options use different volumes that do not equal 0.6 ounces of ethanol with common beverage strengths, so they’re not standard drink sizes. Understanding standard drink sizes helps in estimating intake and counseling patients about risk.