Standard drinks

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

Different types of alcoholic drinks contain different amounts of pure alcohol. A standard drink is defined as one that contains 10 grams of pure alcohol.

These are all equal to approximately one standard drink:

• Low-alcohol beer (3.5%): 1.6 pots, or one can, total volume 375ml
• Regular beer (4.9%): 1 pot, or 3/4 of a stubby, 285ml
• Table wine (12%): 1 small glass, 100ml
• Pre-mixed drinks/spirits (5.5%): 3/4 of a 330ml bottle (please note, some PMDs are stronger, up to 7% alcohol)
• Mixed drinks: 1 glass, 30ml of spirits (40%) plus mixer
• Spirits or liqueurs (40%): 1 nip, 30ml

Example

Two full strength pots of beer + one small glass of wine + one rum and coke = four (4) standard drinks.

A 285 ml container of beer is called a:

• 'pot' in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania
• 'middy' in New South Wales , the ACT and Western Australia
• ‘schooner' in South Australia
• ‘handle' in the Northern Territory

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.