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What Counts as One Drink? Understanding Standard Drink Sizes

What Counts as One Drink? Understanding Standard Drink Sizes

Not sure what “one drink” means? You are not alone. Many people wonder what classifies as a drink.

Not sure what “one drink” means? You are not alone. Many people wonder what classifies as a drink. In the United States, one standard drink is defined as any beverage that has 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol. You may be asking, how do I know if what I am drinking is more or less than that? Take a look below: 

Standard drink measure

As you can see, the amount of liquid in your drink doesn’t matter; it is the amount of alcohol in your drink that helps you to understand what is considered one drink. Always check the label of the beer, wine, or distilled spirits (liquor) to see how it compares to the examples above when making choices about drinking.

This article has been medically reviewed by
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Nurse Practitioner

Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women's health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

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