Why are a 12 ounce hard seltzer and 1.5 ounces of liquor both standard drinks? CHOOSE AN OPTION BELOW
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Because they contain the same amount of pure alcohol
Explanation:
A 12-ounce can of hard seltzer and a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor are both considered standard drinks because they contain roughly the same amount of pure alcohol, which is about 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of ethanol.
The concept of a “standard drink” was developed to help people understand and track their alcohol intake more easily. Even though drinks come in different sizes and types — such as beer, wine, or spirits — a standard drink provides a consistent measure of alcohol content.
Here’s how it works:
- Hard seltzer: Most hard seltzers are about 5% alcohol by volume (ABV). A 12-ounce (355 mL) can of a 5% ABV drink contains approximately 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.
- Liquor (spirits): A 1.5-ounce (44 mL) shot of 40% ABV (which is 80-proof) liquor like vodka, rum, or whiskey also contains about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.
So, even though the volume of the drink is different — 12 ounces versus 1.5 ounces — the alcohol content is the same. That’s why both are counted as one standard drink.
Understanding this helps with responsible drinking. If someone is trying to stay within safe drinking limits, knowing how much pure alcohol they are consuming matters more than the type or size of the beverage.
Other standard drinks include:
- 5 ounces of wine at 12% ABV
- 12 ounces of beer at 5% ABV
The key takeaway is that different beverages can be equivalent in alcohol content, even if they look quite different in size.
