Alcohol is commonly measured and served in shots. A shot is generally considered 1.5 ounces or 44 ml. So 200 ml of alcohol would be equivalent to about 4.5 shots (200 ml / 44 ml per shot = 4.5 shots).
What is a Standard Drink?
When looking at alcohol amounts, it can also be helpful to think in terms of standard drinks. A standard drink is defined as any drink that contains about 14 grams or 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. In the United States, a standard drink is generally considered to be:
- 12 ounces of beer (about 5% alcohol)
- 5 ounces of wine (about 12% alcohol)
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (about 40% alcohol)
So a shot, at 1.5 ounces of a distilled spirit like vodka, whiskey, or rum, is equal to one standard drink. This means 200 ml of a distilled spirit at 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) would contain about 5 standard drinks.
Calculating Standard Drinks
The number of standard drinks in any type of alcoholic beverage can be calculated using the following formula:
Number of standard drinks = (Total fluid ounces of beverage) x (Alcohol by volume percentage) / 0.6
Let’s break this formula down to understand it better:
- Total fluid ounces refers to the total volume of the alcoholic drink.
- Alcohol by volume percentage refers to the ABV of the drink. This is usually around 5% for beer, 12% for wine, and 40% for distilled spirits.
- 0.6 is the number of fluid ounces of pure alcohol in one standard drink.
So for example, to calculate the standard drinks in a 12 ounce beer:
Standard drinks = (12 oz) x (0.05) / 0.6 = 1 standard drink
For a 5 ounce glass of wine:
Standard drinks = (5 oz) x (0.12) / 0.6 = 1 standard drink
Calculating Shots from ml
Now let’s go back to figuring out how many shots are in 200 ml of alcohol. Since 200 ml is equal to about 6.8 fluid ounces, we can use the standard drink formula:
Standard drinks = (6.8 oz) x (0.4) / 0.6 = 4.5 standard drinks
So 200 ml of a distilled spirit at 40% ABV contains 4.5 standard drinks. And since a shot is equal to one standard drink, 200 ml contains 4.5 shots.
Variability of Shot Sizes
It’s important to note that while a standard shot is considered 1.5 ounces, the actual amount of liquid in a poured shot can vary significantly. This means the number of shots in 200 ml can range depending on the exact pour size:
| Shot Size | Shots in 200 ml |
|---|---|
| 1 ounce | 6.8 shots |
| 1.25 ounces | 5.5 shots |
| 1.5 ounces (standard shot) | 4.5 shots |
| 2 ounces | 3.4 shots |
As you can see, the number of shots in 200 ml can range from over 6 shots if poured as 1 ounce pours, down to just over 3 shots if very generously poured at 2 ounces each.
Factors Affecting Alcohol Content
There are some additional factors that can affect the actual alcohol content and number of standard drinks or shots in an alcoholic beverage:
- ABV: The alcohol by volume percentage is not always exactly 40% for spirits, 12% for wine or 5% for beer. The actual ABV can vary, resulting in more or less alcohol content.
- Dilution: Adding mixers like water, soda or juice will dilute the alcohol, decreasing the overall alcohol percentage.
- Cooking: Heating wine or spirits in food preparation can burn off some of the alcohol content.
- Container size: Cocktails served in pint glasses or fishbowl-sized containers may contain multiple servings and shots of alcohol.
What is Considered One Drink?
In many studies and guidelines around alcohol consumption, “one drink” is used to define a serving of alcohol. This is generally considered equivalent to one standard drink or one shot. So 200 ml of distilled spirits at 40% ABV would be equal to about 4 to 5 “drinks”.
However, it’s important to understand that even one drink does contain a real amount of alcohol and associated risks. Defining a “drink” as 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits may give the impression that such an amount is harmless, which is not the case. Consuming even moderate amounts of alcohol carries health risks and can impair judgement and coordination.
Recommendations for Alcohol Intake
Many health agencies provide guidelines for alcohol intake to reduce risks associated with drinking:
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend up to 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.
- The American Heart Association recommends no more than 1 drink per day for women and 1-2 drinks per day for men.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends up to 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.
These recommendations are based on standard drink sizes. Consuming alcohol beyond these moderate levels can increase health risks.
Blood Alcohol Concentration
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measures the amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream. It is used to assess intoxication and alcohol impairment. Some key points about BAC:
- BAC is expressed as the percentage of alcohol in the blood, such as 0.08%.
- A BAC of 0.08% is the legal limit for driving in the U.S. At this level, alcohol has clear effects on motor coordination and judgement.
- BAC levels depend on a number of factors like weight, gender, amount consumed, and time frame of consumption. BAC rises when alcohol is consumed faster than it is metabolized.
- For a 160 pound male, 4-5 drinks consumed over 2-3 hours could lead to a BAC near or above 0.08%, while for a 120 pound female, 2-3 drinks in that time may have the same effect.
So while 200 ml of a spirit may equal 4-5 shots or standard drinks, consuming that full amount within a couple hours could potentially lead to excessive intoxication, especially for some individuals.
Impact on Health
Consuming large amounts of alcohol like 200 ml of spirits also carries significant health risks, including:
- Liver damage – Regularly drinking more than 3-4 drinks damages the liver over time leading to cirrhosis.
- Cancer – Drinking excessively increases the risk of liver, breast, colon, esophageal and other cancers.
- Heart disease – Heavy drinking weakens the heart muscle leading to cardiomyopathy and irregular heartbeat.
- High blood pressure – Too much alcohol leads to spikes in blood pressure.
- Pancreatitis – The pancreas can become inflamed and damaged from alcohol, causing severe abdominal pain.
- Weakened immune system – Chronic drinking impairs the immune system, increasing susceptibility to pneumonia and tuberculosis.
These serious medical conditions impact life expectancy. Drinking any amount should be done responsibly with full awareness of the potential consequences.
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
Drinking a large volume of alcohol like a full 200 ml of spirits can also put someone at risk for alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal. Signals of alcohol poisoning include:
- Confusion, disorientation
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Slow or irregular breathing
- Blue tinted or pale skin
- Passing out and being unresponsive
Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 if you suspect alcohol poisoning in yourself or someone else. Do not wait for all symptoms to be present to get help.
Tolerance and Alcoholism
Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol builds tolerance. This means over time, more alcohol is needed to get the same effects. High tolerance levels put people at greater risk for alcoholism and addiction.
Binge drinking, defined as bringing blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher, is another major concern. Binge drinking 200 ml of a spirit would certainly fall under this definition. Frequent binge drinking patterns are considered alcohol abuse and can lead to alcoholism.
Interactions with Medications
Drinking alcohol while on certain medications can be very dangerous. Some potential medication interactions include:
- Antibiotics: Alcohol interacts with some antibiotics like metronidazole, tinidazole and linezolid, causing severe nausea, vomiting, cramps, flushing and rapid heart rate.
- Pain relievers: Alcohol intensifies the sedation effects of opioids like oxycodone, increasing the risk of overdose and respiratory depression.
- Blood thinners: Alcohol exaggerates the blood thinning effects of warfarin, leading to abnormal bleeding.
- Diabetes medications: Alcohol can dramatically increase the blood sugar lowering effects of insulin or oral diabetes drugs, resulting in hypoglycemia.
- Anti-anxiety and sleep medications: Alcohol enhances the sedation and respiratory effects of benzodiazepines like lorazepam and zolpidem, potentially leading to coma or death.
Consuming alcohol should always be discussed with a doctor if taking any medications to avoid dangerous interactions.
Awareness of Serving Sizes
Understanding standard serving sizes for alcohol is important for monitoring intake. Many people underestimate actual volumes. For example, a large wine glass can easily hold 12-15 ounces of wine rather than the standard 5 ounce pour.
Being aware of the number of shots or standard drinks in cocktails, mixed drinks and other alcoholic beverages allows people to track consumption and avoid inadvertent binge drinking. Having accurate information also helps promote responsible drinking decisions.
Conclusion
In summary, 200 ml of distilled spirits at 40% alcohol by volume contains approximately:
- 4.5 to 6.8 shots depending on exact pour size
- 4.5 standard drinks
- 4 to 5 “drinks” based on common definitions
This amount exceeds moderate intake recommendations, and consuming the full 200 ml within a short time frame could potentially cause intoxication and health risks based on individual factors. Being aware of serving sizes, alcohol content, and your own tolerance and limits is key to practicing responsible consumption.
