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Alcoholic beverages

Beer, wine, and liquor (distilled spirits) are alcoholic beverages. The following common alcoholic beverages contain equal amounts of alcohol. They are often referred to as a drink or a standard drink.

  • One 341 mL (12 fl oz) bottle of 5% beer, hard cider, or hard seltzer
  • One 142 mL (5 fl oz) glass of 12% wine
  • One mixed drink containing 43 mL (1.5 fl oz) of 40% hard liquor, such as vodka, gin, rye whiskey, or rum

Proof is the percentage of alcohol in an alcoholic drink. The percentage of pure alcohol is usually one-half the proof (for example, 100-proof liquor is about 50% pure alcohol). The higher the proof, the more pure alcohol the drink contains.

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