What is a Standard Alcoholic Drink?

It’s important to know what a standard drink is and how you are individually affected by drinking alcohol. People often talk about a standard drink and alcohol packaging in Australia has labels with a standard drink measure. However, many people don’t actually know what a standard drink is or how it is measured.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) defines a standard drink as 10 grams of alcohol. However often a typical serving of alcohol deviates away from this measure; for example, many licensed venues serve a glass of wine as 150 ml, where a standard glass of wine is in fact 100 ml. Consider the below information on alcohol content in what most people consider to be a standard drink:

Number of standard drinks – beer
Full strength 4.8% alc. vol
285 ml glass – 1.1 standard drinks
375 ml bottle or can – 1.4 standard drinks
425 ml glass – 1.6 standard drinks
24 x 375 ml case – 34 standard drinks

Mid strength 3.5% alc. vol
285 ml glass – 0.8 standard drinks
375 ml bottle or can – 1 standard drink
425 ml glass – 1.2 standard drinks
24 x 375 ml case – 24 standard drinks

Low strength 2.7% alc. vol
285 ml glass – 0.6 standard drinks
375 ml bottle or can – 0.8 standard drinks
425 ml glass – 0.9 standard drinks
24 x 375 ml case – 19 standard drinks

Number of standard drinks – wine
Red wine 13% alc. vol
100 ml standard serve – 1 standard drink
150 ml average restaurant serving – 1.5 standard drinks
750 ml bottle – 7.7 standard drinks
2 litre cask – 21 standard drinks
4 litre cask – 41 standard drinks

White wine 11.5% alc. vol
100 ml standard serve – 0.9 standard drink
150 ml average restaurant serving – 1.4 standard drinks
750 ml bottle – 6.8 standard drinks
2 litre cask – 18 standard drinks
4 litre cask – 36 standard drinks

Champagne 12% alc. vol
150 ml average restaurant serving – 1.4 standard drinks
750 ml bottle – 7.1 standard drinks

Port 17.5% alc. vol
60ml standard serve – 0.8 standard drinks
2 litre cask – 28 standard drinks

Number of standard drinks – spirits
High strength 40% alc. vol
30 ml nip – 1 standard drink
700 ml bottle – 22 standard drinks

Full strength ready-to-drink 5% alc. vol
275 ml bottle = 1.1 standard drinks
330ml bottle – 1.2 standard drinks
660 ml bottle – 2.6 standard drinks

High strength ready-to-drink 7% alc. vol
275 ml bottle – 1.5 standard drinks
330 ml bottle – 1.8 standard drinks
660 ml bottle – 3.6 standard drinks

Full strength pre-mix spirits 5% alc. vol
250 ml can – 1 standard drink
300 ml can – 1.2 standard drinks
375 ml can – 1.5 standard drinks
440 ml can – 1.7 standard drinks

High strength pre-mix spirits 7% – 10% alc. vol
250 ml can – 1.4 – 1.9 standard drinks

As the concentrations levels of alcohol vary in different drinks, it is wise to check the label on alcohol products for the number of standard drinks.

It is important to familiarise yourself with the above facts about alcohol to avoid binge drinking and drink driving. Enjoy alcohol in moderation to reduce the short-term side effects of drinking and long-term consequences of alcohol.

Click here for more information about the NHMRC Australian Alcohol Guidelines.