Tag: Gunpowder test

The modern measurement of Alcohol by Volume (ABV) replaced older, confusing systems like the proof standard, with the United Kingdom making the official switch in 1980. This move marked the end of a long and inconsistent history of measuring alcohol strength, originally linked to a primitive gunpowder test.

Back in the 16th century, British sailors used a gunpowder test to determine if their rum had been watered down, a practice that eventually gave rise to the term "proof". This historical origin is key to understanding how is the proof of an alcoholic drink defined, a measurement that now primarily relates to its alcohol by volume (ABV) in modern contexts.