Is a 5% Beer Equal to a Shot? Understanding Standard Alcohol Content
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), one standard alcoholic beverage contains roughly 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. This makes it crucial to understand the math behind your drinks: is a 5% beer equal to a shot? For standard sizes, the total pure alcohol content is indeed surprisingly similar.