Determining how many milliliters (ml) are in one shot of alcohol is useful information for monitoring alcohol consumption and understanding standard drink sizes. The answer depends on the type and strength of alcohol as well as the size of the shot glass. This article provides a detailed look at milliliters per shot for different types of alcoholic drinks.
What is a Standard Drink?
Before looking at shots specifically, it’s helpful to understand what constitutes one standard alcoholic drink. Many government health agencies around the world use the concept of a “standard drink” to help guide recommendations for lower-risk alcohol consumption.
In the United States, one standard drink is defined as containing 14 grams or 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. In metric units, one standard U.S. drink is therefore:
- 355 ml (12 fl oz) of regular beer at 5% alcohol by volume (ABV)
- 148 ml (5 fl oz) of wine at 12% ABV
- 44 ml (1.5 fl oz) of distilled spirits at 40% ABV
The alcohol content is what defines a standard drink. Different container sizes or alcohol strengths will alter the volume needed to reach the 0.6 oz alcohol threshold.
How Many ml are in a Shot of Liquor?
For distilled spirits like vodka, rum, tequila, and whiskey, one standard drink is considered 1.5 fluid ounces or a “shot.” At 40% alcohol by volume, that shot equates to:
- 44 ml of distilled spirits for one standard shot drink
This means a typical 1.5 ounce shot pour contains 44 ml of alcohol. The actual volume of liquid will be slightly more than 44 ml because the spirits are less than 100% alcohol due to water and other ingredients.
Factors that Influence ml per Shot
There are a few factors that can alter the ml or ounces in a poured shot compared to the standard 44 ml:
- Alcohol strength: Spirits with higher alcohol by volume (ABV) will contain more ml of pure alcohol. A 50% ABV spirit will have about 19% more alcohol per 1.5 oz shot compared to 40% ABV.
- Shot glass size: Bars may use different sized shot glasses that hold more or less than 1.5 ounces.
- Pouring accuracy: Heavy or light pours will increase or decrease the actual volume.
Common Shot Glass Sizes
While 1.5 ounces is the defined standard shot size, other common glass sizes include:
| Shot Glass Size | Fluid Ounces | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| Mini/Pony Shot | 1 ounce | 30 ml |
| Standard Shot | 1.5 ounces | 44 ml |
| Double Shot | 2 ounces | 59 ml |
As you can see, the standard 1.5 ounce (44 ml) shot is the typical glass size used for one shot pour at bars and restaurants.
Shots of Liqueurs and Other Spirits
The above ml per shot calculations are based on a distilled spirit that is 40% alcohol by volume. However, there are some exceptions:
- Liqueurs: These distilled spirits are typically lower in alcohol, around 20-30% ABV. A 1.5 ounce shot would contain less alcohol (around 22 ml).
- Overproof spirits: Spirits above 40% ABV would have more than 44 ml alcohol in a 1.5 ounce shot. A 75% ABV spirit would have around 66 ml alcohol per shot.
- Bitters and syrups: Bitters, simple syrups, and mixers contain minimal alcohol so 1.5 ounces would not constitute one standard drink.
How Many ml in a Glass of Wine?
For wine, one standard U.S. drink is considered 5 ounces at 12% ABV. This equates to:
- 148 ml of wine at 12% ABV for one standard drink
Most wine glasses hold between 150 and 300 ml. To monitor intake, its best to measure poured volumes or drink sizes.
Wine Alcohol Content and Glass Size
| Wine Type | Typical ABV | ml for One Standard Drink |
|---|---|---|
| Red wine | 13-15% | 133-148 ml |
| White wine | 11-14% | 125-148 ml |
| Sparkling wine | 11-13% | 133-148 ml |
As shown above, the average alcohol content of most wines is close to 12% ABV. So the standard 148 ml or 5 oz serving size provides a good reference point for monitoring intake.
How Many ml in One Beer?
For regular beer at 5% alcohol:
- 355 ml provides one standard drink
This is equivalent to a 12 ounce beer bottle or can.
Factors that Influence Beer ml
For beer, the following factors impact the ml and alcohol content:
- ABV: Higher alcohol beers contain more alcohol per 355 ml. A 7% double IPA would have 43% more alcohol than a 5% lager.
- Serving size: Glasses and mugs can range from 200 to 500+ ml.
- Draft vs. bottle: Draft beer tends to have a higher ABV than bottled.
Common Beer Glass Sizes
| Beer Glass | Typical Volume | Standard Drinks* |
|---|---|---|
| Pint glass | 500 ml | 1.4 drinks |
| Tulip pint | 400 ml | 1.1 drinks |
| Bottle/Can | 355 ml | 1 drink |
*Based on 5% ABV beer. Higher alcohol beers would contain more drinks.
Bottles and cans provide the most standardized serving size for monitoring alcohol intake. Glasses vary greatly, so it’s best to measure pours.
Factors that Impact Alcohol Content and Potency
Beyond just volume, there are some additional factors that influence the alcohol content and potency of drinks:
- Alcohol by volume (ABV): The percentage of alcohol content directly impacts the alcohol amount.
- Drinking time – Consuming drinks over 2 hours vs. 2 minutes impacts intoxication.
- Mixers and dilution – Mixing with water or soda lowers ABV.
- Food – Eating before/during drinking slows absorption.
- Biological factors – Weight, gender, genetics affect intoxication.
While ml and ounces provide a starting point for gauging intake, these other factors also play a role in intoxication levels and impact.
Using Alcohol by Volume for Tracking Intake
Focusing on total alcohol by volume (ABV) consumed provides the most accurate method for tracking drink amounts and alcohol intake.
Using the typical percent alcohol contents, we can calculate alcohol volumes:
- Beer 5% ABV – 355ml has 17.75ml alcohol
- Wine 12% ABV – 148ml has 17.76ml alcohol
- Spirits 40% ABV – 44ml has 17.6ml alcohol
As you can see, the ABV standard drink sizes all contain roughly the same amount of alcohol, around 0.6 fluid ounces or 18 milliliters.
So for the most complete picture, calculate total milliliters or ounces of alcohol consumed based on ABV percentages rather than just drink volumes.
Typical Number of Shots in Different Alcoholic Drinks
Using standard alcohol content figures, the approximate number of shots or standard drinks in different beverages is:
| Beverage | Serving Size | Approx. Standard Drinks* |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 12 oz at 5% ABV | 1 drink |
| Wine | 5 oz at 12% ABV | 1 drink |
| Spirits | 1.5 oz at 40% ABV | 1 drink |
| Malt liquor | 12 oz at 9% ABV | 1.8 drinks |
| Hard seltzer | 12 oz at 5% ABV | 1 drink |
*Based on standard U.S. drink definition of 0.6 oz alcohol
These figures help provide estimates of standard drinks in typical beverage serving sizes. Having awareness of approximate alcohol content in different drinks can help guide lower-risk consumption.
Measuring Alcohol Strength with Proof
In the United States, alcohol content is sometimes measured by alcohol proof rather than ABV percentage. Proof is double the ABV percentage. For example:
- 40% ABV = 80 proof
- 50% ABV = 100 proof
- 75% ABV = 150 proof
So a 100 proof spirit contains 50% alcohol by volume. While measuring by proof used to be more common, ABV percentages are now the standard for labeling spirits as well as wine and beer.
How Many Standard Drinks Per Day or Week?
Knowing how many milliliters are in a standard drink allows you to accurately track your intake. But how much is considered moderate or low-risk consumption?
There are no universally accepted guidelines for drinks per day or per week. However, many major health agencies provide the following recommendations:
- For men: No more than 2-4 standard drinks per day and 10-14 per week
- For women: No more than 1-2 standard drinks per day and 5-7 per week
The cutoffs are typically lower for women due to differences in metabolism and body composition. Older adults may also want to limit intake further, to 1 drink or fewer per day.
Keep in mind, these are recommended upper limits, not target goals. Moderation is highly individualized, and some people may choose to drink less or abstain completely.
What Counts as Binge Drinking?
Consuming a large number of drinks in one sitting is considered binge drinking. For tracking purposes, binge drinking is defined as:
- 5+ drinks for men
- 4+ drinks for women
Over shorter 2-3 hour periods, even lower amounts may qualify as binge episodes. This type of drinking pattern is considered particularly risky for health and safety.
Using Mobile Apps to Monitor Intake
Logging drinks and calculating ml of alcohol manually can be challenging. Luckily, there are many mobile apps that can help:
- Easy Drink Tracker – Tracks drinks and approximate standard sizes.
- AlcoDroid Alcohol Tracker – Logs detailed drink data and statistics.
- Try Dry – Records drinks and provides motivational support.
Apps like these allow you to easily record each drink, alcohol content, brand details, pictured receipts and more. Over time, they provide insights into drinking patterns and totals.
Factoring Location and Culture
It’s important to note that standard drink sizes and guidelines vary significantly by country and region. For instance:
- Europe – 10 grams of alcohol is one standard unit
- UK – 8 grams of alcohol per unit
- Japan – 19.75 grams of alcohol per standard go
Regulations, typical pour sizes, and cultural drinking patterns also differ. Always know the specifics for your location.
Conclusion
Understanding milliliters and ounces of alcohol helps provide tangible metrics for monitoring intake. However, alcohol impact depends on much more than just drink volume. Awareness of standard sizes, ABV, pacing, food intake and your own tolerance and preferences is key.
Armed with information on milliliters per drink, you can make informed choices about your alcohol consumption. Moderation looks different for everyone, so find the intake level that fits your health goals and lifestyle.
