How many beers are 60 shots? The dangerous alcohol equivalency explained

November 15, 2025 •

4 min read

A standard 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor contains the same amount of pure alcohol as a 12-ounce beer with 5% ABV, making them both one standard drink. This crucial fact reveals that 60 shots represents a dangerously high level of alcohol consumption, equivalent to 60 standard beers.

Quick Summary

This article clarifies the alcohol equivalence between 60 shots of liquor and beer, detailing how the conversion is based on standard drink sizes and alcohol by volume (ABV). It emphasizes the severe health risks associated with such high-volume drinking and the importance of understanding standard units.

Key Points

60 Standard Shots = 60 Standard Beers: Based on pure alcohol content (0.6 oz per standard drink), 60 shots of 80-proof liquor contain the same amount as 60 standard 12 oz beers.
The Danger is Extreme: Attempting to drink 60 shots is a lethal dose of alcohol for most people and can cause alcohol poisoning, coma, or death.
ABV Changes Everything: The conversion rate is highly dependent on the alcohol by volume (ABV) of both the liquor and beer, with higher ABV drinks equating to more standard drinks.
Not About Volume, but Alcohol: Although 60 shots (90 oz) is a smaller volume than 60 beers (720 oz), the pure alcohol content is what matters for intoxication and health risks.
Intoxication Varies: Factors like body weight, gender, food intake, and pace of drinking all significantly impact how quickly and intensely alcohol affects an individual.
Understand Standard Drinks: Being aware of standard drink sizes is key to monitoring consumption and drinking responsibly, as a single cocktail or larger beer can contain multiple standard drinks.

Calculating Alcohol Equivalency

The fundamental principle for converting between different types of alcoholic beverages, such as beer and spirits, is the concept of a "standard drink." In the United States, one standard drink contains approximately 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. This standardized measurement is crucial for understanding alcohol's effects, regardless of the drink type.

One Standard 12 oz Beer: Contains about 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol (at 5% ABV).
One Standard 1.5 oz Shot of Liquor: Contains about 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol (at 40% ABV).

Therefore, based on the pure alcohol content, a standard 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof (40% ABV) liquor is equivalent to one 12-ounce regular beer (5% ABV). To calculate how many beers are 60 shots, the math is straightforward: 60 shots * 1.5 ounces per shot = 90 fluid ounces of liquor. Since each 12-ounce beer is equivalent to one shot in pure alcohol content, 60 shots would be equivalent to 60 standard beers. This is an incredibly high and dangerous amount of alcohol.

The Impact of Alcohol Content (ABV) on the Calculation

The previous calculation assumes a standard 40% ABV liquor and 5% ABV beer. However, the alcohol by volume (ABV) of both spirits and beer varies widely. This is a critical factor that can significantly change the equivalency.

Consider the following scenarios based on ABV:

Higher ABV Liquor: A 1.5-ounce shot of 95% ABV spirits (like Spirytus vodka) contains far more alcohol than a standard shot. This single shot would be equivalent to nearly two standard 5% ABV beers. Consequently, 60 shots of 95% ABV liquor would equate to nearly 114 standard beers.
Lower ABV Beer: If the beer has a lower ABV, such as 4%, it would take more volume to reach the same alcohol content. In this case, each 1.5-ounce shot of standard 80-proof liquor would be equivalent to a larger volume of beer.
Craft Beers: Many craft beers, especially IPAs, have a significantly higher ABV than 5%. A 12-ounce craft beer with 7% ABV would be equivalent to more than one standard shot, changing the ratio entirely.

Serious Health Risks of Consuming 60 Shots

Attempting to consume 60 shots of liquor in a short period is a life-threatening act. Medical experts and health organizations strongly advise against such excessive alcohol intake, which can lead to alcohol poisoning and death. The human body can only metabolize a limited amount of alcohol per hour, and ingesting this much so quickly would overwhelm the body's systems.

Alcohol Poisoning: The primary risk is alcohol poisoning, which occurs when a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) suppresses vital bodily functions like breathing and heart rate.
Coma and Death: BAC levels of 0.30% can lead to a coma, while levels around 0.40% can be lethal. Consuming 60 shots would raise a person's BAC to extremely dangerous, potentially deadly levels, depending on weight, gender, and other factors.
Other Severe Symptoms: Other symptoms of severe alcohol poisoning include seizures, hypothermia, severely depressed reflexes, and incontinence.

Factors Influencing Alcohol Effects

Several factors determine how alcohol affects an individual, which is why a standard conversion is a general guideline, not a guarantee of effect.

Body Weight and Composition: Larger individuals with more body water tend to have a lower BAC for the same number of drinks than smaller individuals.
Gender: Women generally have a higher BAC than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol, due to differences in body fat, water content, and enzyme levels.
Pace of Drinking: Consuming alcohol quickly (as with shots) leads to a rapid increase in BAC, which is significantly more dangerous than drinking slowly.
Food Intake: Drinking on an empty stomach allows alcohol to be absorbed into the bloodstream much faster, resulting in a higher BAC.

Alcohol Equivalency Comparison Table

This table illustrates the equivalency of pure alcohol for various common drinks. Each row represents roughly one standard drink (0.6 oz of pure alcohol).


Beverage Type	Standard Serving Volume	Typical ABV	Total Pure Alcohol	Equivalent Standard Drinks
Regular Beer	12 fl oz	5%	0.6 oz	1
Craft Beer	12 fl oz	7%	0.84 oz	1.4
Malt Liquor	8 fl oz	7%	0.56 oz	~0.9
Wine	5 fl oz	12%	0.6 oz	1
Standard Shot	1.5 fl oz	40% (80-proof)	0.6 oz	1
High-Proof Shot	1.5 fl oz	95%	1.425 oz	~2.4

Conclusion

While a simple mathematical conversion shows that 60 standard shots contain the same amount of alcohol as 60 standard beers, focusing solely on this number misses the critical and life-threatening context. Consuming 60 shots of liquor is not a challenge to be attempted; it is an extremely dangerous act that carries a very high risk of alcohol poisoning, coma, and death. Differences in alcohol by volume (ABV) mean that 60 shots of stronger liquor could be equivalent to an even higher number of beers, increasing the danger further. It is essential to practice responsible drinking and be aware of the serious health consequences of excessive alcohol consumption.

For more information on standard drink sizes and responsible consumption, please visit the CDC's Standard Drink Size page.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can use the 'standard drink' equivalency. A standard US drink contains 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. A standard 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof liquor and a standard 12 oz beer both equal one standard drink. Therefore, the number of shots is roughly equivalent to the number of standard beers, though this changes with different ABVs.

No, it is extremely dangerous and potentially lethal. Consuming 60 shots can quickly lead to severe alcohol poisoning, coma, respiratory failure, and death, far surpassing safe drinking limits.

In the U.S., a standard drink contains about 14 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. This is found in 12 ounces of 5% ABV beer, 5 ounces of 12% ABV wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot of 40% ABV (80-proof) liquor.

Yes, absolutely. A higher ABV in either the liquor or the beer changes the equivalency. For example, a single 1.5 oz shot of 95% ABV liquor contains much more alcohol than a standard shot and is equivalent to almost two beers.

The primary danger comes from the pace and volume. Shots are typically consumed much faster than beers, causing a rapid, severe spike in blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The physical volume of liquid is also a factor, as drinking a large number of beers takes significantly longer.

A 'Power Hour' typically involves drinking 60 small shots of beer over 60 minutes, which is far less concentrated than 60 shots of hard liquor. While still involving a large volume of alcohol, it's a very different and less immediately lethal scenario than drinking 60 shots of spirits.

Initial signs of alcohol poisoning can include confusion, vomiting, slowed or irregular breathing, pale or bluish skin, and hypothermia. If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, seek immediate medical help.