Are the following drinks considered equal in alcohol by volume: a 12 oz. beer, a 4 oz. glass of wine, and a 1.5 oz. shot?

The understanding that a 12 oz. beer, a 4 oz. glass of wine, and a 1.5 oz. shot contain equal amounts of alcohol by volume is grounded in the concept of standard drinks. In many places, a standard drink is defined as containing approximately 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.

To break it down:

• A typical beer contains about 5% alcohol by volume (ABV), so a 12 oz. beer would have approximately 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.

• A glass of wine often has around 12% ABV; therefore, a 4 oz. glass would also contain roughly 0.48 ounces of pure alcohol, which is close to a standard drink.

• A standard shot of distilled spirits (like vodka or whiskey) is usually about 40% ABV, meaning a 1.5 oz. shot contains about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.

Thus, while minor variations may exist based on the specific drink and its ABV, in general terms, these examples represent standard drinks that provide a comparable amount of alcohol, leading to the conclusion that the drinks are equivalent in alcohol content by volume.