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Standard drinks

The use of standard drinks can help people to monitor their alcohol consumption and exercise control over the amount they drink.

A standard drink is defined as one that contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. Different types of alcoholic drinks contain different amounts of pure alcohol. For example, each of the drinks below are equal to approximately one standard drink:

  • Two 285ml pots/middies/schooners/handles of light beer (2.7% Alc./Vol)
  • One 375ml stubbie of mid strength beer (3.5% Alc./Vol)
  • Three-quarters of a 375ml stubbie of full strength beer (4.8% Alc./Vol)
  • One 285ml pot/middy/schooner/handle of full strength beer (4.8% Alc./Vol)
  • 100ml of wine (13.5% Alc./Vol)
  • Two-thirds of a 330ml bottle of alcoholic soda (5% Alc./Vol)
  • 30ml of spirit or liqueur (40% Alc./Vol).

Keep in mind:

The "standard" size of drinks served in some hotels may be bigger than the standard drinks you are used to. Large wine glasses can hold two standard drinks or even more.
  • Drinks served at home often contain more alcohol than a standard drink.
  • Cocktails can contain as many as five or six standard drinks, depending on the recipe.

Blood alcohol concentration

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. A BAC of 0.05 means the person has 0.05 grams of alcohol in every 100ml of their blood.

Since the liver metabolises alcohol at a rate of about three-quarters of a standard drink an hour, the BAC level drops over time, unless more alcohol is consumed.

BAC is measured with a breathalyser, or by analysing a sample of blood.
 
 

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