Natty Light, also known as Natural Light, is an American light lager style beer produced by Anheuser-Busch. It has a low 4.2% ABV (alcohol by volume) and is known for being an affordable, low-calorie beer option for college students and other budget-conscious drinkers.
Alcohol Content in Natty Light
The alcohol content of Natty Light is 4.2% ABV. This means a 12 ounce can or bottle of Natty Light contains 0.525 ounces (15.6 ml) of pure alcohol. Since there are 29.6 milliliters in one fluid ounce, this equates to 15.6 ÷ 29.6 = 0.525 fluid ounces of alcohol per 12 ounce Natty Light serving.
Another way to calculate the alcohol is by weight. Alcohol has a density of 0.789 g/mL. So 15.6 mL of alcohol equates to 15.6 * 0.789 = 12.3 grams of alcohol per 12 oz Natty Light.
Typical Alcohol Content of Beer
For comparison, many regular American lagers and pilsners have around 4-5% ABV. Here are some examples:
- Budweiser – 5% ABV
- Coors Light – 4.2% ABV
- Miller Lite – 4.2% ABV
- Pabst Blue Ribbon – 4.7% ABV
So with 4.2% ABV, Natty Light contains slightly less alcohol than regular Budweiser and a typical American lager. But it has the same alcohol content as other “light” beers like Coors Light and Miller Lite.
Number of Drinks in a 12 oz Natty Light
According to the US Dietary Guidelines, a standard drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. Given that a 12 oz Natty Light contains 0.525 oz alcohol, we can calculate:
0.525 oz alcohol / 0.6 oz per drink = 0.875 standard drinks
So a 12 ounce Natty Light contains about 0.875 standard drinks worth of alcohol. This means a single Natty Light can is less than the alcohol quantity defined as one standard drink.
What Counts as One Drink?
Here are some examples of one standard alcoholic drink from the Dietary Guidelines:
- 12 oz regular beer at 5% ABV
- 8-9 oz malt liquor at 7% ABV
- 5 oz wine at 12% alcohol
- 1.5 oz distilled spirits (gin, rum, vodka, etc) at 40% alcohol
While many regular 12 oz beers are considered one standard drink, Natty Light falls slightly under that definition at 0.875 drinks per can.
Natty Light Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for a 12 ounce can of Natural Light beer:
| Nutrition Facts | 12 fl oz (1 can) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 95 |
| Carbohydrates | 3.2 g |
| Protein | 0.7 g |
Natty Light is a light beer, so it is relatively low in calories and carbs compared to regular beer. There are 95 calories in a 12oz can. It also contains a small amount of protein.
Low Calorie Beer Options
Here is how Natty Light compares nutritionally to other popular low calorie beers:
| Beer (12 oz serving) | Calories | Carbs (g) | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natty Light | 95 | 3.2 | 4.2% |
| Miller Lite | 96 | 3.2 | 4.2% |
| Coors Light | 102 | 5 | 4.2% |
| Bud Light | 110 | 6.6 | 4.2% |
Natty Light is nearly identical in calories and alcohol to Miller Lite and Coors Light. It beats out Bud Light as the lowest calorie option per serving.
Comparison to Regular Beer Alcohol Content
Compared to full strength regular beers, Natty Light has significantly less alcohol content:
| Beer (12oz serving) | ABV | Alcohol Content (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Natty Light | 4.2% ABV | 0.525 oz |
| Budweiser | 5% ABV | 0.6 oz |
| Heineken | 5% ABV | 0.6 oz |
| Guinness | 4.2% ABV | 0.525 oz |
Natty Light has around 13% less alcohol than typical American lagers like Budweiser. But it has the same alcohol content as Guinness Draught Stout. Overall it sits on the lower end of alcohol quantity compared to most beers.
Alcohol and Calories Compared to Wine
Compared to wine, Natty Light is lower in both alcohol and calories:
| Drink (5oz serving) | Calories | Alcohol Content |
|---|---|---|
| Natty Light | 79 | 0.35 oz |
| White wine | 121 | 0.6 oz |
| Red wine | 125 | 0.6 oz |
A 5 oz glass of white or red wine contains around 50% more calories and 70% more alcohol than an equivalent serving of Natty Light beer. So Natty Light can be a lower calorie, lighter alcohol alternative to wine.
Natty Daddy vs Natty Light Alcohol Content
Natty Daddy is a stronger, higher alcohol version of Natty Light, with 8% ABV. Here is a comparison:
| Beer (12oz can) | Calories | ABV | Alcohol Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natty Daddy | 196 | 8% | 0.944 oz |
| Natty Light | 95 | 4.2% | 0.525 oz |
Natty Daddy has double the alcohol content at 8% ABV versus 4.2% in Natty Light. A Natty Daddy has nearly twice as much alcohol as a Natty Light, and more than 1.5 standard drinks worth.
High Gravity Lager Beers
“High gravity” beers like Natty Daddy have higher alcohol content that regular lagers. Here’s how other high gravity beers compare:
| Beer | ABV | Alcohol Content (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Steel Reserve High Gravity | 8.1% | 0.972 oz |
| Four Loko | 12% | 1.44 oz |
| Budweiser Select 55 | 5.5% | 0.66 oz |
Natty Daddy has a high alcohol percentage for a lager, but not as high as extreme “binge drinking” beers like Four Loko. Overall, Natty Daddy packs nearly twice as much alcohol as regular Natty Light beer.
How Many Natty Lights to Get Drunk?
Since Natty Light is a light beer with lower alcohol content, it will take more cans to reach the point of drunkenness compared to regular beer. Here’s an estimate:
- For a 120 lb female: About 5 Natty Lights (4.2% ABV) to reach a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08%, the legal driving limit.
- For a 160 lb male: Around 7-8 Natty Lights to potentially reach a BAC of 0.08%.
However, alcohol tolerance varies widely by individual. Factors like genetics, drinking experience, and stomach contents can alter alcohol absorption. It may take fewer or more Natty Lights to exceed the legal driving limit.
Reaching a BAC of 0.08% does not mean someone exhibits outward signs of drunkenness. Subjective drunkenness occurs at higher BAC levels closer to 0.15%. At this level of impairment, an average person may require 10-12 Natty Lights consumed within 2 hours to reach a BAC approaching 0.15%. But again, there are many individual differences in alcohol response.
Staying Safe
Drinking enough to reach legal intoxication or outward drunkenness often leads to poor decision making and risky behavior. It’s safest to drink in moderation by pacing yourself to 1 or fewer standard drinks per hour and staying below binge drinking levels.
Factoring in Natty Light ABV
Natty Light’s lower 4.2% alcohol makes it weaker than most regular beer. This ABV% factors into how many you would need to drink to get drunk.
For comparison:
- At 4.5% ABV, it would take around 7-9 beers to potentially reach 0.08% BAC range for an average person.
- At 5% ABV, around 6-8 beers.
- At 6% ABV, approximately 5-7 beers.
So the higher the alcohol percentage, the fewer drinks needed to raise BAC levels. Natty Light’s low alcohol content means you need to consume more cans to reach the same alcohol levels as regular beer.
Why Light Beer Gets You Less Drunk
Light beer has fewer calories and carbs because it goes through an extra filtration process. This process removes nutrients that yeast need to produce alcohol through fermentation.
With less fermentable sugars and nutrients available, light beers produce lower alcohol percentages. The tradeoff is you need to drink more light beers to reach the same alcohol effect.
Tips for Consuming Natty Light
Here are some tips for drinking Natty Light responsibly and healthily:
- Pace yourself to 1 or fewer Natty Lights per hour. Don’t binge drink.
- Drink water between Natty Lights to stay hydrated.
- Eat food before or during drinking to slow absorption.
- Know your limits and stop before getting drunk.
- Use a designated driver, rideshare, or taxi when drinking away from home.
- Don’t participate in dangerous activities like swimming or driving when drinking.
Enjoying Natty Light or any alcohol wisely means being aware of your consumption rate and not drinking to excess levels. Natty Light’s lighter alcohol content makes it easier to moderately consume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Natty Light so cheap?
Natty Light is able to be priced very cheaply compared to other beers because of its simple, low-cost production process. It is made from inexpensive grains like rice and corn. The light beer process requires fewer raw materials. And the cheap packaging and minimal marketing for Natty Light also keeps costs down.
Is Natty Light good for you?
Like most beers, Natty Light has downsides including alcohol, calories, and additives. But the relatively low calorie and carb content makes it a decent light beer option. Enjoying Natty Light in moderation can fit into an overall balanced diet. But excessive drinking has health risks.
Is Natty Light watered down?
Natty Light has approximately 88% as much malt and fermentable sugars as regular beer before the filtration process. So it does get “watered down” slightly in terms of having fewer nutrients and fermentable ingredients. But the alcohol percentage is only 13% less than a typical beer.
The Bottom Line
A 12 ounce can of Natty Light contains 0.525 ounces of alcohol, providing less alcohol than most regular beers. Due to its lighter 4.2% alcohol content, you would need to drink around 5-8 Natty Lights to reach a potentially intoxicating blood alcohol level. Enjoy Natty Light responsibly by drinking in moderation.
