Alcohol measurements

Alcohol measurements are units of measurement for determining amounts of beverage alcohol. Alcohol concentration in beverages is commonly expressed as alcohol by volume, ranging from less than 0.1% in fruit juices to up to 98% in rare cases of spirits. A "standard drink" is used globally to quantify alcohol intake, though its definition varies widely by country. Serving sizes of alcoholic beverages also vary by country.

Alcohol concentration

Fruit juices	< 0.1%
Cider, wine coolers	4%–8%
Beers	typically 5%
Wines	typically 13.5%
Sakes	15–16%
Fortified wines	15–22%
Spirits	typically 30%-40%

The concentration of alcohol in a beverage is usually stated as the percentage of alcohol by volume or as proof. In the United States, proof is twice the percentage of alcohol by volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Degrees proof were formerly used in the United Kingdom, where 100 degrees proof was equivalent to 57.1% ABV. Historically, this was the most dilute spirit that would sustain the combustion of gunpowder.
Ordinary distillation cannot produce alcohol of more than 95.6% by weight, which is about 97.2% ABV because at that point alcohol is an azeotrope with water. A spirit which contains a very high level of alcohol and does not contain any added flavoring is commonly called a neutral spirit. Generally, any distilled alcoholic beverage of 170 US proof or higher is considered to be a neutral spirit.
Most yeasts cannot reproduce when the concentration of alcohol is higher than about 18%, so that is the practical limit for the strength of fermented drinks such as wine, beer, and sake. However, some strains of yeast have been developed that can reproduce in solutions of up to 25% ABV.

Standard drink

A standard drink is a notional drink that contains a specified amount of pure alcohol. The standard drink is used in many countries to quantify alcohol intake. It is usually expressed as a measure of beer, wine, or spirits. One standard drink always contains the same amount of alcohol regardless of serving size or the type of alcoholic beverage. The standard drink varies significantly from country to country. For example, it is 7.62 ml of alcohol in Austria, but in Japan it is 25 ml :

In the United Kingdom, there is a system of units of alcohol which serves as a guideline for alcohol consumption. A single unit of alcohol is defined as 10 ml. The number of units present in a typical drink is sometimes printed on bottles. The system is intended as an aid to people who are regulating the amount of alcohol they drink; it is not used to determine serving sizes.
In the United States, the standard drink contains of alcohol. This is approximately the amount of alcohol in a glass of beer, a glass of wine, or a glass of a 40% ABV spirit.

A standard drink of 10g alcohol is used in the WHO AUDIT 's questionnaire form example, and has been adopted by more countries than any other amount. 10 grams is equivalent to 12.7 millilitres.

Beer measures

Name	Metric units	US customary units	Imperial units	Notes
Gill	142 mL	4.8 US fl oz	5 imp oz	of an Imperial pint. Also called a Quartern or Noggin.
Nip	189.42 mL	6.39 US fl oz	6 imp oz	of an Imperial pint. Short for Nipperkin. Strong ale and Barley wine were usually bottled in nips Metric measurement glasses and containers usually round up to a metric half pint of 200 mL.
small glass	236.59 mL	8 US fl oz	8.33 imp oz	US pint.
small glass	275 mL	9.29 US fl oz	9.68 imp oz
Gill of Beer	284 mL	9.61 US fl oz	10 imp oz	Imperial pint. A gill of beer was a customary measure equal to half an imperial pint used in rural parts of England. It is a holdover from when spirits, wines and brandies, ale, and beer all had different standard measures of capacity. An Ale Gill and a Beer Gill were different sizes until standardized as Ale / Beer gallons in 1688, Beer gallons in 1803, and Imperial gallons in 1824.
Half	284 mL	9.61 US fl oz	10 imp oz	Imperial pint. Also called a "glass" in the UK and Ireland. Metric-measure glasses round down to 280 mL or round up to 285 mL.
bottle	330 mL	11.16 US fl oz	11.61 imp oz	The Standard International Bottle. litre, based on the long-necked 355 mL American standard bottle.
Stubby	341 mL	11.53 US fl oz	12 imp oz	of an imperial pint. A short-necked, thick-walled beer bottle commonly found in Canada and South Africa. It was rounded down to 340 mL after metrication, and later replaced by the EU standard long-necked 330 mL bottle.
bottle	355 mL	12 US fl oz	12.49 imp oz	US pint. American breweries fluctuated between 11 and 13 ounces before gradually standardizing on a median 12 ounces after World War II. The American Twelfth, American Commercial Pint / British Reputed Pint, and the Canadian "stubby" bottle may have been factors.
Stubbie (AUS)	375mL	12.68 US fl oz	13.2 imp oz	A beer bottle that is half the capacity of a 750 mL champagne/wine bottle. Reused champagne punts were used in the 19th century to ship lager beer to Australia, establishing it as the beer "quart". When metrication was introduced in the 1970s, the Reputed Pint was replaced with the 375 mL stubbie.
Schooner (UK)	378.84 mL	12.8 US fl oz	13 imp oz	of an imperial pint. Metric measurement glasses usually round up to 380 mL.
Schooner (AUS)	425 mL	14.37 US fl oz	14.95 imp oz	of an Imperial pint; a schooner is an imperial half pint in South Australia.
pint / large glass	473.18 mL	1 US pt = 16 US fl oz	16.65 imp oz	1 US pint.
pint	568.26 mL	19.2 US fl oz	1 imp. pt = 20 imp oz	Beer sales in Britain and the Commonwealth are based on multiples of,, and full imperial pints. Imperial-measure glasses were 568 mL, and metric-measure glasses round up to 570 mL. Beer bottles in the UK were rounded down to 550 mL after standard metrication was introduced in 1995, later changed to 500 mL by January 1, 2000. After December 31, 1999, the imperial pint was no longer considered a legal measure except for draught beer, cider, and milk in reusable pint and quart bottles.
Sixth (US)	651 mL	22 US fl oz	1.14 imp pt	US gallon, rounded up from 21.3 US fl oz. Also called a "bomber" or a "double deuce". Mostly replaced by the 40 US fl oz bottle by the late 1980s, but still used by some breweries for beer and malt liquor. Metric measure containers are rounded down to 650 mL. The US 23-ounce beer glass holds a sixth of beer, plus the head.
tallboy	710 mL	24 US fl oz	1.249 imp pt	A beercan containing of a US fluid quart. Also called a "7-10" in Canada.
flagon	946.35 mL	32 US fl oz	1.66 imp pt	1 US quart.
small pitcher	946.35 mL	32 US fl oz	1.66 imp pt	2 US pints. The 32 oz pitcher is usually used with large 16 oz beer glasses.
40	1.137 litres		40 imp oz	2 imperial pints, 1 imperial quart, or a quarter of an imperial gallon. Referred to as a "40" or “40-pounder” in Canada and a litre in the United States.
40	1.183 L	40 US fl oz	2.08 imp pt	2.5 US liquid pints. Might have been inspired by the Canadian 40 imp fl oz bottle. Malt liquor is often bottled in "40's".
Third	1.242 L	42 US fl oz	-	US gallon. Mostly replaced by the 40 US fl oz bottle by the late 1980s.
medium pitcher	1.41 L	48 US fl oz		3 US pints. The 48 oz pitcher is used with either medium 12 oz beer glasses or large 16 oz beer glasses.
Yard of Ale (UK)	1.42 L	48.03 US fl oz	50 imp. oz	imp. Pints. A long thin vessel with a conical rim and a bulb-shaped reservoir at the bottom.
large pitcher	1.77 L	60 US fl oz		3.75 US pints. The 60 oz pitcher is usually used with medium 12 oz beer glasses.
growler	1.89 L	64 US fl oz		US gallon.
Darwin stubby	2.273 L		80 imp fl oz	Standard Australian bottle size, equal to half of an Imperial gallon. Later rounded down to 2.25 L after metrication, or reduced to 2 L in states with strict drinking laws.
bucket	18.18 L		4 imp gal	Obsolete measure.
pin	20.46 L		4.5 imp gal
Sixtel Keg	19.53 L	5.16 US gal.	-	Sixth of a US beer barrel.
pony keg	29.33 L	7.75 US gal	-	US beer barrel.
anker (US)	37.85 L	10 US gal	8.33 imp gal	An obsolete Dutch measurement, originally used for a small cask of wine or brandy. It was brought to the New World by the former Dutch colony of Nieuw Amsterdam. It was adopted by Colonial New York and New Jersey as a standard measure and was retained by America after independence. It was also used in Europe, where it varied in capacity from 9 to 11 US gallons.
firkin	40.91 L		9 imp gal	2 pins
keg	58.67 L	15.5 US gal		US beer barrel.
kilderkin	81.83 L		18 imp gal	2 firkins
US barrel		31 US gal		2 kegs
UK barrel	163.66 L		36 imp gal	2 kilderkins
hogshead	245.49 L		54 imp gal	6 firkins or 3 kilderkins
puncheon	327.32 L		72 imp gal	2 barrels
butt	490.98 L		108 imp gal	2 hogsheads or 3 barrels
tun	981.96 L		216 imp gal	2 butts or 3 puncheons.

Liquor measurements

The following table lists common sizes for liquors and spirits.

Name	US customary units	Imperial units	English units	Metric units	Metric units	Notes
Bartender's Teaspoon or Splash	fl oz			3.696 ml	3.7 ml	1 dram
Count	0.5 US fl oz			14.8 mL	15 mL	Using calibrated pour spouts that restrict flow to 0.5 fl oz/s
Bartender's Tablespoon	US fl oz			11.09 ml	11.1 ml	3 drams
Mouthful	-	-	1/2 Wine oz.	14.78 mL	15 mL	of a wine pint, obsolete with the introduction of Imperial measures in 1824.
Gill		imp fl oz		23.7 mL	25 mL	Legal serving of spirits defined in the Weights and Measures Act of 1963. Rounded up to 25 mL in 1985. Scotland and Northern Ireland were allowed to keep their larger measures, as long as the glassware was consistent and marked and advertised as such.
Shot					25 mL	Legal serving of spirits in the UK since 1985.
Roquille					~29.75 mL	A measure of spirits in the Ancien Régime of France, being of a French pinte.
Gill		1 imp fl oz		28.4 mL	30 mL	Traditional Scottish spirits measure
Peg (India)		1 imp fl oz	-	28.4 mL	30 mL	Also called a "small peg"; a "large peg" is a double measure of 2 imperial ounces. Traditional spirits measure on the Indian subcontinent.
Gill		imp fl oz		35.5 mL	35 mL	Traditional Irish spirits measure
Pony	1.0 US fl oz			29.57 mL	30 mL	Defined as of a jigger. Was used to measure a cordial.
Pony	0.75 US fl. oz.	0.78 imp. fl. oz.	Wine oz.	22.18 mL	25 mL	May be derived from holding a "pennyworth" of beer.
Jigger	1.5 US fl oz			44.36 mL	45 mL	Typical size after U.S. Prohibition, but varies
Short shot	1.5 US fl oz			44.36 mL	45 mL
Jigger		gill		35.52 mL	35 mL	Legal U.K. spirits measure from 1826 to 1984, for Gin, rum, vodka and whisky.
Jigger			1.5 imp fl oz	42.61 mL	42 mL	3 Tablespoons or 2 Ponies.
Jigger	2.0 US fl oz				60 mL	Before U.S. Prohibition
Hooker			2.5 imp fl oz			jigger
Gill		2.5 imp. oz.		71 mL	70 mL	imperial pint. Used from 1826 to 1984.
Jack		2.5 imp. oz.		71 mL	70 mL	Historically equivalent to two jiggers or handfuls, or half a gill. No longer in general use.
Snit	3.0 US fl oz			88.72 mL	90 mL	Two jiggers.
Gill	4.0 US fl oz			118.294 mL	120 mL	Pronounced , historically equivalent to two jacks, half a cup, or a quarter pint.
Gill		5.0 imp fl oz		142.065 mL	150 mL	Pronounced , historically equivalent to two jacks, half a cup, or a quarter pint.
Tumbler	6.39 US fl oz	6 imp. oz.		189.42 ml	190 mL or 200 mL	A British tumbler was of an Imperial pint.
Tumbler	8 US fl oz	8 imp. oz		236.58 mL	235 mL	An American tumbler is of a US fluid pint, the same size as a cup.
Whiskey Barrel	53 US gallons	44 Imp. gallons			200 L	American Standard Barrel. An international standard measurement for whiskey.
Whiskey Hogshead	66 US gallons	55 Imp. gallons	-	-	250 L	An international standard measurement for whiskey.
Whiskey Butt	132 US gallons	110 Imp. gallons	-	-	500 L	An international standard measurement for whiskey.

Shot sizes

vary significantly from country to country. In the United Kingdom, serving size in licensed premises is regulated under the Weights and Measures Act (1985). A single serving size of spirits are sold in 25 ml or 35 ml quantities or multiples thereof. Beer is typically served in pints, but is also served in half-pints or third-pints. In Israel, a single serving size of spirits is about twice as much, 50 or 60 mL.
The shape of a glass can have a significant effect on how much one pours. A Cornell University study of students and bartenders' pouring showed both groups pour more into short, wide glasses than into tall, slender glasses. Aiming to pour one shot of alcohol, students on average poured 45.5 ml & 59.6 ml respectively into the tall and short glasses. The bartenders scored similarly, on average pouring 20.5% more into the short glasses. More experienced bartenders were more accurate, pouring 10.3% less alcohol than less experienced bartenders. Practice reduced the tendency of both groups to over pour for tall, slender glasses but not for short, wide glasses. These misperceptions are attributed to two perceptual biases:

Estimating that tall, slender glasses have more volume than shorter, wider glasses; and
Over-focusing on the height of the liquid and disregarding the width.

Liquor bottles

Name	US customary units	Imperial units	Metric units	Notes
Pint	1 US fl oz	1.04 imp fl oz	29.57 mL	Former size for US brandy nip bottles before metrication. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip".
Miniature	1.5 US fl oz	-	44.36 mL	Former size for US miniature bottles before metrication that were based on the post-Prohibition jigger. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip".
Pint	1.6 US fl oz	1.66 imp fl oz	47.31 mL	Former size for US nip bottles before metrication. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip".
Pint	2 US fl oz	2.08 imp fl oz	59.14 mL	Former size for US miniature bottles before metrication that were based on the pre-Prohibition jigger. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip".
Twelfth	11 US fl oz	-	325 ml	A twelfth of a US Gallon, rounded up from its actual volume of 10.66 US fl oz. Formerly used for beer until it was replaced by the Pint bottle after World War 2.
Tenth	12.8 US fl oz	-	378 mL	A tenth of a US gallon. Called a "Commercial Pint" because it was equivalent to 0.8 US liquid pints. Replaced by the 375 mL "metric pint".
Reputed Pint	-	13.3 imp oz.	378 mL	The "Reputed Pint" was devised to split a standard gallon into twelve small bottles. Originally it was based on the British Wine gallon, which was later adopted by the United States as their standard fluid gallon. This made a Wine Gallon "Reputed Pint" equivalent to US liquid pint, 11.09 imp. oz, or 315 mL. Although the Imperial system was introduced in 1824, bottles of ale or beer were still sold in Reputed Pints but were now based on the Imperial gallon. It was later replaced by the Imperial Pint in the 20th century.
Sixth	22 US fl oz	-	651 ml	A sixth of a US Gallon, rounded up from its actual volume of 21.33 US fl oz. Formerly used for cheap liquor like gin and vodka. It was supposed to be replaced by the 500 mL "half-liter", which was dropped in 1989, but is sometimes used for craft beer and malt liquor.
	25.6 US fl oz	26.66 imp oz.	757 mL	A fifth of a US gallon. Called a "Commercial Quart" because it was equivalent to 0.8 US fluid quarts. Replaced by the 750 mL "metric quart".
Reputed Quart	25.6 US fl oz	26.66 imp oz.	757 mL	The "Reputed Quart" was devised to split a standard gallon into six large bottles and was usually used for wine and liquor. Originally it was based on the British Wine gallon, which was later adopted by the United States as their standard fluid gallon. When the Imperial system was introduced in 1824, measures of wine or liquor were still sold in either Reputed Quarts or Imperial Quarts. It was later replaced by the Imperial Quart in the 20th century.
Quart	38.5 US fl oz	40 Imp. oz.	1.14 L	Usually replaced with liter bottles in Commonwealth countries after metrication. The Quart is still used as a standard container for liquor in Canada, known as a "forty", "forty-pounder" or "forty-ouncer". In Canada, liter size bottles are only found at Duty Free stores.
Third	42 US fl. oz.	43.71 Imp oz.	1.24 L	A third of a US gallon, rounded down from 42.66 US fl. oz. It was used for cheap liquor like gin and malt liquor. Later rounded down to 40 US fl. oz. in the 1960s.
Half gallon	64 US fl oz	66.61 Imp oz.	1.89 L	A half of a US gallon. Replaced by the 1.75 L "metric half-gallon" in 1976.

The British Reputed Pint and Reputed Quart were used in Great Britain and throughout the Empire from the late 17th century until the early 20th century. Originally there were different standard gallons depending on the type of alcohol. That meant that the Reputed measures varied depending on which standard gallon was used. A Reputed Pint of beer was equal to 285 mL and a Reputed Quart of wine was equal to 730 mL. When the Imperial system was adopted in 1824, the fluid gallon was standardized on the old Ale Gallon. However, Reputed pints and quarts were still used by breweries and merchants, but measurements were now based on the Imperial system. There was still confusion about whether Reputed or Imperial measures was being used by the merchant, so eventually Imperial pints and quarts were made standard in the early 20th century.
The United States adopted the British Wine Gallon as standard. The laws concerning the production and sale of alcohol stated that it had to be sold in portions of a gallon for tax purposes. A standard case of bottled beer, wine or liquor had to be equal to two gallons and bottles came in half-dozens and dozens rather than fourths and eighths. There would be 24 small bottles or 12 large bottles per case. The bottles were later increased in size to be equivalent to British Reputed Pints and Quarts, allowing them to be interchangeable for export. The American liquor industry later referred to these measures as "Commercial Pints" and "Commercial Quarts".

Wine measurements

The following table contains various measurements that are commonly applied to wine.

Name	US fluid ounces	Metric units	No. of 750 mL bottles	Notes
Quarter bottle	6.3	187.5 mL		Also known as a piccolo, pony, snipe or split. They are commonly served in packs of 4 bottles.
Chopine	8.5	250 mL		Bordeaux region. A metric half-pint.
Half bottle	12.7	375 mL		Also known as a demi.
Half Litre	16.9	500 mL		Used for sweet wines like Tokays and Sauternes.
Bottle	25.4	750 mL	1	Standard Bottle for wine and spirits.
Litre	33.8	1 L		Popular size for wines introduced by Austrian Grüner Veltliner wine producers in the late 1990s. Also used by German, Chilean and American producers since the late 2000s.
Magnum	50.7	1.5 L	2
Marie Jeanne	76	2.25 L	3	Bordeaux region. Usually used for a Claret wine bottle.
Tregnum	76	2.25 L	3	Port wine bottle. Also called "Tappit hen", from a Scottish breed of chicken from the Shetland Isles with a tuft of feathers on the top of its head. The red sealing wax over the cork stopper resembles a red tuft of feathers.
Double Magnum	101.4	3 L	4	Bordeaux region
Jeroboam	101.4	3 L	4	Champagne region
Four Litre	135.3	4 L		American still wines.
Jeroboam	152.2	4.5 L	6
Rehoboam	152.2	4.5 L	6	Champagne and Burgundy regions
Jeroboam or MacKenzie	169	5 L		Bordeaux region.
Five Litre	169	5 L		American still wines.
Imperial	202.9	6 L	8	Bordeaux region
Methuselah	202.9	6 L	8	Champagne and Burgundy regions
Seven Litre	236.7	7 L		American still wines.
Eight Litre	270.5	8 L		American still wines.
Salmanazar	304.3	9 L	12	Champagne region.
Ten Litre	338.1	10 L		American still wines.
Balthazar	405.8	12 L	16	One of the Three Wise Men who presented gifts to the infant Jesus.
Nebuchadnezzar	507.2	15 L	20	Champagne region.
Melchior	608.7	18 L	24	Champagne region.
Solomon	676	20 L	26	Champagne region.
Primat or Goliath	912	27 L	36	Champagne region.
Melchizedek	1014	30 L	40	Champagne region.

The 750 mL Standard wine bottle was chosen because it was the standard French wine bottle once moulded glass bottles were available in the 19th century. Previously there was a roughly 730 mL limit to glass-blown bottles because that was the limit of a glassblower's lungs. The volume was rounded up to 750 mL and then was used as the base size for French wine containers, with all subdivisions and multiples figured from it. The rest of the world followed suit with equivalent customary measurement versions of their own.
Following metrication in 1980, American still wines can also be sold in large multi-liter containers, but only in full liters. They are typically sold in glass demijohns or foil bag-in-box containers holding 4, 5, 7, 8, or 10 Liters.

Name	US fluid ounces	Metric units	No. of 750 mL bottles	Notes
Half Bottle	12	354.8 mL	≈ Bottle	Used for domestically produced sparkling white wine in the place of the French metric 375 mL champagne punt. Rounded-down from. Still wines came in US pint and Tenth bottles. Replaced in 1980 with the metric 375 mL Demi Bottle for both still and sparkling wines.
Half Liter	16.9	500 mL	Bottle	Was one of the eight standardized US metric bottle sizes listed on January 1, 1980, but was withdrawn on June 30, 1989. Still used in countries that sell wine in half-liters and liters.
Bottle	25	739.3 mL	≈1 Bottle	Used for domestically produced sparkling white wine in the place of the French metric 750 mL champagne punt. Rounded down from. Still wines came in US quart or Fifth bottles. Replaced in 1980 with the metric 750 mL Standard Bottle for both still and sparkling wines.
Sovereign	887	26.25 L	35 Bottles	Champagne bottle created specially by Taittinger's in 1988 for the launch of Sovereign of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship at the time. Only five bottles were made and the firm has not made others since.