Standard Alcoholic Drink
Beer , wine , hard liquor ( distilled spirits ) all contain alcohol . The following common alcoholic drinks contain equal amounts of alcohol and are often referred to as a drink or a standard drink :
• One mixed drink containing 1.5 fl oz ( 44mL ) of 80-proof hard liquor , such as gin , whiskey , or rum .
• One 5 fl oz ( 148 mL ) glass of wine .
• One 12 fl oz ( 355 mL ) bottle of beer or wine cooler .
Proof is the amount of alcohol in hard liquor or distilled spirits . The percentage of pure alcohol in the hard liquor is usually one- half the proof . For example , a 100-proof liquor is about 50 % pure alcohol . Thus , the higher the proof , the more pure alcohol the hard liquor contains .
Blood Alcohol Content
Your BAC ( Blood Alcohol Content ) is the percentage of your blood volume that is alcohol . The more you drink , the more your BAC increases . As BAC increases , alcohol ’ s effects become less pleasant and more dangerous . The rate at which a person ’ s BAC rises varies depending on :
• The number of drinks consumed ( The more consumed , the higher the BAC )
• How quickly drinks are consumed ( Alcohol consumed more quickly raises the BAC higher than when drinks are consumed over a longer period of time )
• Your gender ( Women generally have less water weight and more body fat per pound than men . Because alcohol doesn ’ t go into fat cells as easily , more alcohol remains in a women ’ s body .)
• Your weight ( More weight = more water ; water dilutes alcohol and lowers the BAC )
• Food in your stomach ( Food slows down alcohol absorption . What ’ s the best to eat ? Protein ! It takes the longest to digest )
Binge Drinking Binge drinking is a pattern of excessive alcohol use that increases a person ’ s blood alcohol content very rapidly . This typically happens when men consume 5 or more drinks , and when women consume 4 or more drinks , in about 2 hours .
• About 90 % of the alcohol consumed by U . S . youth under the age of 21 is in the form of binge drinking .
Binge drinking is associated with many health problems , including but not limited to :
• Unintentional injuries ( e . g . car crashes , falls , burns , drowning )
• Alcohol poisoning
• Unsafe sex and sexually transmitted diseases
• Unintended pregnancy
• Sexual dysfunction
• High blood pressure , stroke , and other cardiovascular diseases
• Liver disease
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