Is a fifth of liquor a lot? The Health Risks Explained

November 19, 2025 •

4 min read

A standard fifth of liquor, which contains approximately 17 shots, is a volume that far exceeds recommended daily and weekly alcohol intake limits. Consuming a fifth of liquor, especially in a single session, constitutes binge drinking and poses significant dangers to your health.

Quick Summary

A fifth of liquor equals about 17 standard drinks, a quantity that constitutes dangerous binge drinking. This article details the immediate risks, such as alcohol poisoning, and the serious long-term health consequences of such heavy consumption.

Key Points

A Fifth Equals Many Drinks: A standard 750ml fifth of liquor contains approximately 17 shots or standard drinks, far surpassing recommended limits for healthy consumption.
Binge Drinking Definition: Consuming a fifth quickly is considered binge drinking, which is 4+ drinks for women and 5+ drinks for men in about two hours.
Risk of Alcohol Poisoning: The high volume of a fifth makes alcohol poisoning a major and life-threatening risk, which can cause respiratory failure, seizures, and death.
Serious Long-Term Health Damage: Persistent heavy drinking, whether a fifth per week or more, can lead to liver disease (cirrhosis), heart problems, several types of cancer, and neurological damage.
Practice Responsible Drinking: To minimize risk, strategies include setting limits, pacing drinks with water, eating beforehand, and knowing the signs of alcohol poisoning.
Seek Emergency Help Immediately: If you see someone with symptoms of alcohol poisoning, such as vomiting, slow breathing, or unresponsiveness, call emergency services immediately.

What is a 'Fifth' of Liquor? Understanding the Volume

The term "fifth" is a historical measure, originally signifying one-fifth of a U.S. liquid gallon. Today, it refers to a 750ml bottle, which is the standard size for most distilled spirits. This metric bottle contains approximately 25.4 fluid ounces. Given that a standard U.S. shot is 1.5 ounces, a fifth of liquor holds about 17 shots. While the bottle size is standard, the act of consuming its contents, or a significant portion of them, in a short period is far from a standard or healthy practice. This amount is not only substantial but highly dangerous when consumed rapidly.

The Context of 'A Lot': Comparing a Fifth to Health Guidelines

To truly understand if a fifth of liquor is "a lot," it must be measured against established health guidelines. Health authorities clearly define what is considered low-risk or moderate drinking, and a fifth of liquor drastically overshoots these recommendations.

Standard Drink Sizes

For comparison, a standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol. This is found in:

12 ounces of regular beer (about 5% alcohol)
5 ounces of wine (about 12% alcohol)
1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor (about 40% alcohol)

Comparison: A Fifth vs. Recommended Limits

Here is a comparison of the alcohol in a single fifth versus health recommendations:


Item	Volume	Number of Drinks	Health Context
A Fifth of Liquor	750ml (25.4 oz)	~17 shots/drinks	Binge drinking; poses serious immediate and long-term risks.
Male Daily Limit	N/A	2 drinks or less	Lowers risk of alcohol-related harm.
Female Daily Limit	N/A	1 drink or less	Lowers risk of alcohol-related harm.
Male Heavy Weekly Limit	N/A	>14 drinks/week	Increases health risks significantly.
Female Heavy Weekly Limit	N/A	>7 drinks/week	Increases health risks significantly.

The Immediate Dangers of Consuming a Fifth

Drinking a fifth of liquor in a short period is classified as binge drinking. This rapid, high-volume consumption can elevate blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to dangerous or even lethal levels. The immediate risks include:

Alcohol Poisoning: This is a life-threatening emergency caused by drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short time. Alcohol poisoning can dangerously suppress breathing and heart rate.
Accidents and Injury: Impaired judgment, coordination, and reflexes significantly increase the risk of falls, motor vehicle crashes, or other serious injuries.
Blackouts: Consuming large quantities of alcohol can lead to gaps in memory or a complete loss of memory for the duration of the intoxication.

Recognizing Alcohol Poisoning

It is vital to recognize the signs of alcohol poisoning. If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, call for emergency medical help immediately. Key symptoms include:

Confusion, stupor, or unresponsiveness
Vomiting
Slow or irregular breathing (fewer than 8 breaths per minute, or a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths)
Clammy, pale, or bluish-tinged skin
Low body temperature
Seizures
Loss of consciousness

Long-Term Health Consequences of Heavy Drinking

Regularly consuming a fifth of liquor, even if spaced out over a week, constitutes heavy drinking, which has devastating long-term health effects. Excessive alcohol use is a leading cause of preventable death and chronic disease. Some of the serious conditions linked to heavy drinking include:

Liver Disease: Alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholic hepatitis, and eventually, irreversible liver scarring known as cirrhosis.
Heart Problems: Heavy drinking contributes to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), an enlarged heart, and increases the risk of stroke.
Increased Cancer Risk: Long-term excessive alcohol use is linked to higher risks of several cancers, including mouth, throat, liver, and breast cancer.
Brain Damage and Neurological Issues: Chronic abuse can lead to cognitive decline, memory loss, and a higher risk of dementia.
Mental Health Problems: Heavy drinking can exacerbate or trigger mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Strategies for Responsible Drinking

If you choose to drink, adopting responsible habits is crucial to mitigate risk. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides guidelines for reducing your chances of alcohol-related harm.

Set Limits: Decide on a maximum number of drinks before you start, and stick to it.
Pace Yourself: Sip slowly and aim for no more than one standard drink per hour.
Alternate with Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Insert a glass of water or soda between alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated and slow your intake.
Never Drink on an Empty Stomach: Eating food slows the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream.
Identify and Avoid Triggers: If certain people, places, or feelings lead you to drink excessively, create a plan to avoid them.
Seek Support: If you struggle to control your drinking, resources are available. You can learn more about alcohol's effects and health guidelines by visiting the NIAAA website.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a fifth of liquor is unequivocally a lot of alcohol. Its consumption, especially in a single sitting, is a form of binge drinking that poses immediate and severe risks, including potentially fatal alcohol poisoning. The long-term consequences of regular heavy drinking are equally alarming, leading to serious chronic diseases affecting the liver, heart, and brain. Understanding the volume and potential dangers is the first step toward making safer, more responsible choices about alcohol consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

A fifth of liquor is a 750ml bottle. The name originated from a historic U.S. measure, one-fifth of a gallon, which is roughly equivalent to 750ml.

With a standard shot size of 1.5 ounces in the United States, a 750ml fifth of liquor contains approximately 17 standard drinks.

Yes, drinking a fifth of liquor in one night is considered dangerous binge drinking, which is drinking 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more for men on one occasion.

The immediate dangers include alcohol poisoning, which can lead to suppression of breathing, seizures, and death. It also significantly increases the risk of accidents due to impaired judgment and coordination.

Regularly drinking a fifth, even spaced out over a week, is classified as heavy drinking and can cause severe long-term health problems, including liver disease, heart problems, increased cancer risk, and brain damage.

Signs of alcohol poisoning include confusion, vomiting, slow or irregular breathing, seizures, pale or bluish skin, low body temperature, and loss of consciousness.

To drink more responsibly, set limits, pace yourself with no more than one drink per hour, alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and eat food before and during drinking.