How much alcohol is a 5% drink?

December 21, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a standard 12-ounce can of beer with 5% ABV contains approximately 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. This makes it a helpful benchmark for understanding alcohol content across different types of beverages.

Quick Summary

This guide explains the definition of a 5% ABV drink and compares its alcohol content to other beverages like wine and spirits. Learn how to calculate pure alcohol volume and understand standard drink equivalents.

Key Points

Standard Equivalent: A 12-ounce (355 ml) can of 5% ABV beer is considered one standard drink in the U.S., containing 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol.
ABV Defined: Alcohol by Volume (ABV) is the percentage of a beverage's total volume that is pure alcohol, so 5% means 5% of the liquid is ethanol.
Not Just Beer: Many beverages like hard seltzers also have a 5% ABV, while wine and spirits have higher percentages, but are served in smaller quantities.
Equivalent Potency: A 12-ounce 5% beer contains the same amount of pure alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of 12% wine or a 1.5-ounce shot of 40% spirits.
Moderation Matters: Consuming multiple 5% drinks can lead to intoxication and health risks, emphasizing the importance of monitoring total alcohol intake, not just volume.

Decoding Alcohol by Volume (ABV): What 5% Really Means

ABV, or Alcohol by Volume, indicates the percentage of ethanol in an alcoholic beverage. A "5% ABV" label means that for every 100 milliliters of liquid, 5 milliliters are pure alcohol. This allows for a consistent comparison of the strength of different drinks.

The Standard Drink Concept Explained

A "standard drink" in the United States contains about 14 grams (0.6 fluid ounces) of pure alcohol. Public health organizations use this measure for drinking guidelines. The volume of a drink that constitutes one standard drink varies based on ABV. Common examples include:

12 fluid ounces of regular beer (5% ABV)
5 fluid ounces of table wine (12% ABV)
1.5 fluid ounces of distilled spirits (40% ABV)

Understanding these equivalencies is key when consuming different types of alcohol. For more details on standard drink definitions, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Comparing a 5% Drink to Other Beverages

The ABV of alcoholic beverages varies significantly. The table below shows how a standard serving of different drinks contains roughly the same amount of pure alcohol, despite having different liquid volumes.


Beverage Type	Standard Serving Size (US)	Typical ABV	Equivalent Pure Alcohol	Notes
Regular Beer	12 fl oz (355 ml)	5%	0.6 fl oz	This is the classic 5% drink standard.
Table Wine	5 fl oz (148 ml)	12%	0.6 fl oz	Wine ABV can vary, with some being higher.
Distilled Spirits	1.5 fl oz (44 ml)	40%	0.6 fl oz	Often referred to as a standard shot or jigger.
Malt Liquor	8-9 fl oz (237-266 ml)	7%	0.6 fl oz	Typically stronger than regular beer.

This comparison highlights that relying on serving size alone can be misleading. Both a 12-ounce 5% beer and a 5-ounce 12% wine contain similar amounts of alcohol, emphasizing the need to consider both ABV and volume.

Calculating the Alcohol Content in Your Drink

To find the pure alcohol content in a drink, use the formula:

Volume of Alcohol = Total Volume of Drink × (ABV / 100)

For example, in a 12-ounce (355 ml) beer with 5% ABV:

Volume of Alcohol = 12 oz × (5 / 100) = 0.6 oz

This calculation helps understand the actual amount of alcohol consumed, especially with varying ABVs in different drinks.

The Health Context of a 5% Drink

The liver metabolizes about one standard drink per hour. Drinking faster than this increases blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Excessive consumption, even of 5% drinks, can lead to health issues like liver disease, heart problems, and increased cancer risk. The CDC recommends limiting intake to two standard drinks per day for men and one for women of legal drinking age for minimal health risks.

Conclusion

A 5% drink, typically a 12-ounce beer, contains the same amount of pure alcohol (0.6 oz) as a standard 5-ounce glass of 12% wine or a 1.5-ounce shot of 40% spirits. Understanding ABV, serving size, and the standard drink concept is crucial for responsible consumption. Making informed choices about your drinking habits allows you to enjoy alcoholic beverages safely and in moderation.

Frequently Asked Questions

5% ABV means that 5% of the total volume of a drink is pure alcohol. For example, in a 12-ounce beer, 5% of that volume, or 0.6 fluid ounces, is pure alcohol.

A 5% drink, such as a standard beer, is not considered strong compared to drinks like wine (12% ABV) or spirits (40% ABV). However, a larger volume of a 5% drink can contain more alcohol than a smaller, stronger drink.

In terms of standard drinks, one 12-ounce 5% beer is equivalent in pure alcohol content to a 5-ounce glass of 12% wine. Both contain about 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol.

The liver can metabolize approximately one standard drink per hour. Drinking more than one 5% drink per hour will increase your blood alcohol concentration and can lead to intoxication.

Yes, absolutely. While it has a lower ABV than spirits, consuming multiple 5% beers, especially at a fast pace, will raise your blood alcohol level and can cause intoxication.

To calculate the volume of pure alcohol, multiply the total volume of the drink by the ABV percentage. For a 12-ounce, 5% beer, the calculation is 12 oz * 0.05, which equals 0.6 oz of pure alcohol.

Many regular beers, hard ciders, and ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails are around 5% ABV.