Tag: Understanding alcohol

According to US law, for a spirit to be labeled as vodka, it must be at least 40% alcohol by volume (ABV), also known as 80 proof. Therefore, the percentage for 1L of vodka depends entirely on the specific brand and its intended market, as ABV can range from 37.5% up to 95%.

The World Health Organization reports that alcohol contributes to millions of deaths annually, making it crucial to understand different types of alcoholic beverages. The question, 'which is better, alcohol or vodka?' arises from a common misconception, but the two are not separate entities to be compared.

Back in 16th-century England, the term "proof" originated from a test involving gunpowder soaked in a spirit to determine if it was strong enough to warrant higher taxes. Today, the modern US definition for what does it mean when a drink is 80 proof is much simpler: it contains 40% alcohol by volume, a standard strength for many popular distilled spirits.

Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream at varying rates depending on several factors. Understanding this process is key to understanding its effects on the body.