How much is 5% alcohol equivalent to?

November 5, 2025 •

3 min read

In the United States, a 12-ounce can of regular beer at 5% alcohol by volume contains one standard drink, which is equivalent to 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. Understanding how much is 5% alcohol equivalent to is crucial for tracking your intake and making informed decisions about responsible drinking.

Quick Summary

A 5% alcohol beverage, like a 12oz beer, is one standard drink. This contains the same amount of pure alcohol as a 5oz glass of wine or a 1.5oz shot of liquor.

Key Points

Standard Drink Equivalence: A 12-ounce, 5% ABV beer equals one standard drink, containing 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.
Wine Equivalent: One standard 5-ounce glass of 12% ABV wine contains the same amount of pure alcohol as a 12-ounce beer.
Spirits Equivalent: A 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof (40% ABV) liquor has the same pure alcohol content as the 5% beer.
Beyond ABV: The effect of alcohol depends not just on the percentage, but also on the serving size, which can vary significantly from the standard measure.
Personal Factors Matter: An individual's weight, tolerance, rate of consumption, and whether they've eaten can all influence how they are affected by alcohol.

The Standard Drink Explained

To understand how much is 5% alcohol equivalent to, it's essential to grasp the concept of a standard drink. In the U.S., a standard drink is defined as containing 14 grams (or 0.6 fluid ounces) of pure alcohol. This concept provides a baseline for comparing the alcohol content across different types of beverages, which can have vastly different percentages of alcohol by volume (ABV).

For example, while a can of beer and a glass of wine may look like similar serving sizes, their ABV percentages mean they are consumed in different volumes to achieve the same amount of pure alcohol. This is why knowing the standard drink size for each beverage type is more important than simply comparing the percentages on the label.

Comparing 5% Alcohol to Other Beverages

Knowing that a 12-ounce beer at 5% ABV is one standard drink, we can create equivalencies for other alcoholic beverages. This comparison is vital for anyone who switches between beer, wine, and spirits. The volume of the drink decreases as the concentration of alcohol increases to keep the amount of pure alcohol constant.

Beer vs. Wine vs. Spirits

Beer: A typical 12-ounce serving of regular beer contains 5% ABV, making it one standard drink. This is the benchmark for comparison.
Wine: A 5-ounce glass of table wine, which typically has around 12% ABV, also counts as one standard drink. Although the volume is less than half of the beer, the higher alcohol concentration means the pure alcohol content is the same.
Spirits: A 1.5-ounce shot of distilled spirits, often 80-proof (40% ABV), is another example of a standard drink. Here, the volume is significantly smaller, reflecting the high concentration of alcohol.

The Importance of Drink Size

The size of the glass or container is crucial when estimating standard drinks. For instance, a pint of beer served at a bar is typically 16 ounces, which is more than one standard drink. Similarly, a generous pour of wine can easily exceed the 5-ounce standard.

Factors Influencing How Alcohol Affects the Body

While the amount of pure alcohol in a 5% beer, a 12% wine, or a 40% spirit shot is the same, how your body processes it can differ. Many factors influence your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), including:

Body Weight: A heavier person typically has more water in their body, which helps to dilute the alcohol. As a result, they may experience less effect from the same number of standard drinks compared to a lighter person.
Tolerance: Regular drinkers may develop a higher tolerance to alcohol, meaning they require more to feel the same effects. This is different from the ability to metabolize alcohol.
Consumption Speed: Your liver can only process a certain amount of alcohol per hour, roughly one standard drink. Drinking multiple standard drinks in a short period will cause your BAC to rise quickly.
Food Intake: Having food in your stomach, particularly protein and fatty foods, slows down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. This means drinking on an empty stomach will lead to a faster increase in BAC.

The Standard Drink Comparison Table

To provide a clear visual comparison, here is a breakdown of how a 5% ABV beverage stacks up against its counterparts based on the U.S. standard drink definition.


Beverage Type	Alcohol by Volume (ABV)	Serving Size (U.S. Standard Drink)	Pure Alcohol Content
Regular Beer	5%	12 fl oz	0.6 fl oz (14g)
Table Wine	12%	5 fl oz	0.6 fl oz (14g)
Distilled Spirits	40% (80 proof)	1.5 fl oz	0.6 fl oz (14g)
Malt Liquor	7%	8 fl oz	0.6 fl oz (14g)
Hard Seltzer	5%	12 fl oz	0.6 fl oz (14g)

Conclusion

In simple terms, a 12-ounce beer with 5% alcohol is equivalent to one standard drink. This contains the same amount of pure alcohol as a smaller 5-ounce glass of wine or a 1.5-ounce shot of spirits. Understanding this equivalency is a foundational step toward more mindful alcohol consumption. Always consider the actual volume and alcohol content of your drink, as many servings exceed the standard size. Ultimately, being aware of how different beverages measure up in terms of pure alcohol is the key to managing your intake and ensuring your safety and well-being. For more information on health guidelines, refer to the resources provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Frequently Asked Questions

One 12-ounce regular beer at 5% alcohol is equivalent to one 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof distilled spirits, as both contain 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol.

Yes, based on the U.S. definition of a standard drink, a 12-ounce regular beer (5% ABV) contains the same amount of pure alcohol as a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor (40% ABV).

The equivalent of a 12-ounce, 5% alcohol beer is a 5-ounce glass of 12% alcohol table wine. Both count as one standard drink.

Yes, you can get drunk from 5% alcohol if you consume enough of it in a short period. The speed at which you drink, your body weight, and other personal factors influence your level of intoxication.

For mainstream lagers, 5% ABV is the average. While some craft beers can be much higher (e.g., 8-12%), 5% is a standard strength and not considered particularly high.

To calculate standard drinks, you can use a formula that multiplies the volume of the beverage by its percentage of alcohol, then divides by the standard amount of pure alcohol (0.6 ounces in the U.S.). Online calculators are also available.

The key takeaway for safe drinking is to understand the standard drink equivalencies and monitor your consumption, regardless of the beverage type. Always be mindful that the serving size can vary and influence your intake.