The number of standard drinks in a mixed drink depends on the amount and type of alcohol it contains. In the U.S., a standard drink contains about 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol, which corresponds to:
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits at 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) (80 proof)
- 5 ounces of wine at 12% ABV
- 12 ounces of regular beer at 5% ABV
For mixed drinks, the calculation involves adding up the pure alcohol content from each alcoholic ingredient. For example, if a cocktail contains 1 ounce of 40% ABV cognac, 1 ounce of 40% ABV rum, and 0.5 ounce of 20% ABV triple sec, the total pure alcohol is:
- (1 oz × 40%) + (1 oz × 40%) + (0.5 oz × 20%) = 0.4 + 0.4 + 0.1 = 0.9 oz pure alcohol.
Since 1 standard drink equals 0.6 oz pure alcohol, this cocktail equals 0.9 / 0.6 = 1.5 standard drinks
. If the mixed drink uses higher-proof spirits (e.g., 151-proof rum), the number of standard drinks increases accordingly. Some cocktails with multiple types of liquor, like Long Island Iced Tea, can contain two or more standard drinks
Summary
- A mixed drink with a single 1.5 oz shot of 40% ABV liquor is typically 1 standard drink.
- Mixed drinks with multiple shots or higher-proof alcohol can contain 1.5 to 2 or more standard drinks.
- To estimate, multiply the volume of each alcoholic ingredient by its ABV, sum the pure alcohol amounts, then divide by 0.6 oz (U.S. standard drink size)
This method helps you understand how many standard drinks are in your mixed drink and manage alcohol intake responsibly.
