Question

What is equal in alcohol content to two 12 ounces, bottles of beer?

1) a few shots
2) one bottle of wine
3) two 1.5 ounce amounts of 86 proof liquor
4) one 5 ounce glass of wine

Answer 1

Two 12-ounce bottles of beer have approximately the same amount of alcohol as one 5-ounce glass of wine or two 1.5-ounce shots of 86 proof liquor, because these servings contain roughly the same amount of pure alcohol.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns the comparison of alcohol content in different drinks, specifically comparing two 12-ounce bottles of beer with other alcoholic beverages. To answer this, we need to understand standard drink equivalents, which are usually based on the amount of alcohol they contain. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines a standard drink in the United States as containing 14 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in:

• 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).
• 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).
• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% alcohol content).

So, two 12-ounce bottles of beer would roughly equal one 5-ounce glass of wine or two 1.5-ounce shots (servings) of 86 proof (43% alcohol by volume) liquor. This is because all these servings contain approximately the same amount of pure alcohol. One bottle of wine usually holds about 25 ounces and would have much more alcohol than the two 12-ounce beers.