How many shots is equivalent to a drink?

October 13, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), one standard drink in the U.S. contains 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. This standard is crucial for understanding how many shots is equivalent to a drink across various types of alcoholic beverages, helping to promote responsible consumption and better health decisions.

Quick Summary

A standard drink contains 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol, which can be delivered through various beverages. The equivalency is 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor, or one shot, to a 12-ounce regular beer or a 5-ounce glass of wine.

Key Points

Standard Equivalency: One standard US drink contains 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol, which is equal to a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor, a 12-ounce regular beer, or a 5-ounce glass of 12% wine.
ABV Matters: A drink's alcohol by volume (ABV) is the most critical factor. Higher ABV beverages contain more pure alcohol and therefore can count as multiple standard drinks.
Misleading Pours: Many restaurant and craft beverage pours, such as large glasses of wine or high-ABV beers, contain more than one standard drink.
Accurate Measurement: Using a jigger or being mindful of the listed ABV on packaging helps ensure accurate tracking of alcohol consumption.
Binge Drinking Thresholds: Miscalculating intake can lead to binge drinking, defined by the NIAAA as reaching a BAC of 0.08% or higher, with different thresholds for men and women over a two-hour period.
Health Impacts: Excessive alcohol consumption, particularly when miscalculated, increases the risk of both short-term harm like accidents and long-term health issues such as liver disease and various cancers.

Demystifying the Standard Drink: It's All About the Alcohol

Many people incorrectly assume a 'drink' is a full beer, a large glass of wine, or a single shot, regardless of the strength. However, the equivalency is not based on volume but on the amount of pure alcohol (ethanol) in the beverage. In the United States, a standard drink is consistently defined as containing 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. Understanding this equivalency is fundamental for tracking alcohol intake accurately, which is a key component of moderate drinking.

The Standard U.S. Drink Equivalencies

So, how many shots is equivalent to a drink? For 80-proof (40% ABV) distilled spirits, the answer is exactly one 1.5-ounce shot. This provides the same amount of pure alcohol as a standard-size beer or a glass of wine, as detailed below. This uniformity in pure alcohol content is why they are all considered 'one drink,' even with dramatically different volumes.

One Standard 12-ounce Beer (5% ABV): Contains approximately 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.
One Standard 5-ounce Glass of Wine (12% ABV): Also contains about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.
One Standard 1.5-ounce Shot of 80-Proof Liquor (40% ABV): Delivers 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.

Factors That Change the Equation

This straightforward calculation becomes more complicated due to variations in alcohol by volume (ABV). Craft beers, fortified wines, and premium spirits often have higher alcohol percentages, which can dramatically alter the standard drink size. For example, a high-ABV craft beer could contain two or more standard drinks in a single glass, and a large pour of wine at a restaurant might also exceed a single standard drink.

Common Variations to the Standard Drink

Higher-ABV Beer: A 16-ounce pint of a 7.5% ABV beer contains roughly 2 standard drinks.
Fortified Wine: A 3.5-ounce pour of a 17% ABV fortified wine (like sherry) contains about 1.5 standard drinks.
Double Shot: A 3-ounce double shot of 80-proof liquor contains 2 standard drinks.

Why Miscalculating Matters: The Dangers of Inaccurate Measuring

Understanding alcohol equivalencies is not just a trivia point; it's a vital part of responsible consumption. Misinterpreting how many shots is equivalent to a drink can lead to significantly underestimating your alcohol intake. This can increase the risks associated with binge drinking, which is defined by the NIAAA as a pattern that raises blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher, typically after four drinks for women and five for men within two hours. Excessive consumption can lead to serious health consequences, from accidents and alcohol poisoning to long-term liver damage and increased cancer risk. For this reason, it is crucial to pay attention to the ABV and pour size, especially when drinking higher-proof spirits or craft beverages.

Comparison Table: Shots vs. Other Standard Drinks


Beverage Type	Standard Serving Size	ABV (Approx.)	Equivalent Shots (1.5 oz, 40% ABV)
Regular Beer	12 fl oz (355 ml)	5%	1
Malt Liquor	8 fl oz (237 ml)	7%	1
Table Wine	5 fl oz (148 ml)	12%	1
Distilled Spirits	1.5 fl oz (44 ml)	40% (80 Proof)	1
Craft Beer (High ABV)	12 fl oz (355 ml)	8-10%	1.6 to 2
Large Glass of Wine (Restaurant)	8 fl oz (237 ml)	12%	1.6

Practical Application of Standard Drink Knowledge

To accurately track your alcohol intake, it's helpful to use a jigger or measuring cup, especially when mixing drinks at home. When at a bar, don't assume a cocktail contains only a single standard drink. Some cocktails have multiple shots of spirits, and even a large glass of wine can be more potent than a single standard drink. Always consider the ABV listed on bottles or cans. A pint of 8% ABV beer is the same alcohol load as two standard shots, not one standard beer. Keeping these facts in mind can help you drink more mindfully and make healthier choices.

Conclusion

The answer to the question, how many shots is equivalent to a drink, is one, but only under specific standard conditions. For 80-proof spirits, a single 1.5-ounce shot contains the same amount of pure alcohol as a 12-ounce regular beer or a 5-ounce glass of wine. However, the alcohol content in many beverages can vary significantly, making it essential to understand ABV and the volume of your drink to accurately gauge your intake. Responsible drinking and health awareness are rooted in this precise knowledge of alcohol equivalencies. For more resources on alcohol safety and units, visit Drinkaware.ie.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the U.S., a standard drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. This is the amount found in a 12-ounce regular beer (5% ABV), a 5-ounce glass of table wine (12% ABV), or a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof distilled spirits (40% ABV).

Yes, a standard 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor has the same amount of pure alcohol (0.6 ounces) as a standard 12-ounce beer with 5% ABV. This is the basis for their equivalency as one standard drink.

High-ABV drinks have a higher concentration of pure alcohol per volume. A 12-ounce beer with 8% ABV contains 0.96 ounces of pure alcohol, making it equivalent to 1.6 standard drinks, not just one.

One standard 5-ounce glass of 12% ABV wine is equivalent in pure alcohol content to one 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof spirits. This is not true for all wine pours, as larger glasses or higher-ABV wines contain more alcohol.

Yes, because you consume the same amount of alcohol in a much shorter period. This rapid increase in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a characteristic of binge drinking and can lead to faster intoxication and higher risks.

To measure accurately, use a jigger or measuring cup, especially for liquor, which varies in ABV and pour size. Always check the ABV on beer and wine bottles, and don't rely on glassware size alone to determine your intake.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as consuming enough alcohol to bring your blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher, typically achieved by having four or more drinks for women and five or more for men within a two-hour period.