An airplane bottle, also known as a mini bottle or airline bottle, is a small bottle of alcohol that is served on airplanes. Airplane bottles typically contain 50 ml or 1.7 oz of liquor. A standard alcoholic shot in the United States is generally considered to be 1.5 oz. So at first glance, an airplane bottle appears to contain slightly more alcohol than a typical shot. However, looks can be deceiving, and there are some important factors to consider when determining whether an airplane bottle truly equals a full shot. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at airplane bottle sizes, how they compare to shot sizes, and whether you can expect to get the same amount of alcohol from an airplane mini bottle as you would from a regular shot.
Airplane Bottle Sizes
Airplane bottles come in a standard 50 ml or 1.7 oz size. This size was determined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is consistent across all major airlines. The 50 ml airplane bottle size is designed to provide the right amount of liquor for a single serving while also adhering to the FAA’s maximum 3 oz liquid rule for carry-ons.
Here are some key facts about standard airplane bottle sizes:
- Contain 50 ml or 1.7 oz of liquor
- Standardized by the IATA
- Comply with the 3 oz FAA liquid rule
- Equivalent to approximately 5 tablespoons or 1/6 cup
So while the airplane bottle label may state 1.7 oz or 50 ml, you can think of it as containing roughly 5 tablespoons of liquor. This will be important to keep in mind as we compare it to shot sizes.
Shot Sizes
Unlike airplane bottles, shots do not have one standard size. Shot sizes can vary depending on the type of liquor, the country, regulations, and serving customs. However, there are some general guidelines for shot sizes worldwide:
- USA standard shot: 1.5 oz
- European standard shot: 2-3 cl (0.7-1 oz)
- Australian standard shot: 30 ml (1 oz)
So while there is some variation, a standard shot in most countries contains around 1-1.5 oz of liquor. The most common standard shot size in the United States is 1.5 oz.
Shots may be measured using jiggers or shot glasses:
- Jigger: A measuring tool used to ensure accurate shot pours
- Shot glass: Typically holds 1.5 oz, sometimes 1-2 oz
When served traditionally in a shot glass, a shot will typically contain 1-1.5 oz of liquor in the US, though some large shot glasses may hold up to 2 oz.
Comparing Airplane Bottle and Shot Sizes
Now that we know the typical sizes of airplane bottles and shots, let’s directly compare them:
- Airplane bottle: 50 ml or 1.7 oz
- Standard US shot: 1.5 oz
Looking solely at the ounce measurements, it appears an airplane bottle contains slightly more liquor than a standard US shot. However, remember that liquor measurement terminologies can be inconsistent. To understand how they truly compare, let’s convert them to the same units:
- Airplane bottle: 50 ml = 1.7 oz = ~5 tablespoons
- Shot: 1.5 oz = ~4.5 tablespoons
When converted to tablespoons, you can see an airplane bottle actually contains approximately the same amount of liquor as a standard US shot. The airline bottle holds roughly 5 tablespoons, while the shot is around 4.5 tablespoons – so just a half tablespoon difference.
Given the margin of error in pouring shots and inconsistencies in liquor bottle filling, this half tablespoon difference is negligible in practical terms. So while numerically an airplane bottle contains slightly more liquor, the difference is small enough that most would consider it equivalent to a standard shot.
Accounting for Other Factors
Looking solely at the ounces or milliliters of liquor between the two serving sizes ignores some other important factors:
Proof and Alcohol Percentage
Proof, or alcohol by volume (ABV), refers to the percentage of alcohol in a liquor. Different types of liquor can have vastly different proofs. For example:
- Vodka: Typically 80-100 proof (40-50% ABV)
- Rum: Typically 80-151 proof (40-75.5% ABV)
- Whiskey: Typically 80-120 proof (40-60% ABV)
A 100 ml shot of 40% ABV vodka will contain less actual alcohol than a 100 ml shot of 60% whiskey. So even if the volumes are the same, the amount of alcohol can differ based on the proof.
Since airplane bottles can contain many different liquor types, their effective alcohol content depends on the particular brand and proof. The same is true of shots served at a bar. So two servings of equal volume may differ in actual alcoholic content.
Drinking Vessels
The container used to serve a shot also impacts the actual amount consumed. Shot glasses may hold anywhere from 1-2 oz. Standard whisky glasses may hold up to 3 oz. Highball glasses can hold 8 oz or more.
So while the pour may be a standardized 1.5 oz, the receptacle it’s poured into can alter how much liquor the drinker actually ingests.
The airplane bottle itself is the drinking vessel, so its precise 1.7 oz volume is actually consumed. But shots are often poured into larger glasses, meaning the actual amount ingested may be more than the 1-1.5 oz pour.
Dilution and Mixing
Shots are frequently taken neat, meaning straight liquor with no dilution. However, shots can also be mixed into cocktails or served on the rocks. Adding mixers like juice or soda will dilute the alcohol.
Airplane bottles are typically consumed neat due to FAA regulations. However, some travelers sneak mixers onto flights to create in-flight cocktails.
When liquor is diluted, the overall alcohol concentration decreases. So a 1.5 oz mixed shot may have less alcohol than a 1.7 oz airplane bottle consumed neat.
Consumption Habits
In addition to container and dilution differences, drinking habits play a role in how airplane bottles compare to shots.
Some key points:
- Airplane bottles are served chilled, which can lead to faster intoxication
- Shots are often consumed quickly for effect, whereas airplane bottles may be sipped
- Many bars will serve more than one shot at a time, while airplane bottles are served individually
- Peer pressure and celebration may encourage multiple back-to-back shots at bars
These atmosphere and social factors can lead to increased overall alcohol consumption from shots compared to standard airplane liquor service. So even if the pours are technically the same size, real-world conditions may result in shots equaling more alcohol intake overall.
Accounting for Waste
Another consideration is waste – some amount of a shot or airplane bottle may not actually be consumed.
Shots generally have minimal waste, as the shooter is motivated to consume the entirety of the small volume. However, a notable exception is spilled shots, which can be common in crowded bars and parties.
Airplane bottles may have more waste, as travelers don’t always finish them entirely. Partially consumed bottles cannot be saved on flights due to FAA regulations.
So technically, if you assumed no waste from shots but 5-10% waste from airplane bottles, the usable liquor from a shot pour could exceed that of an airplane bottle.
Summary
To summarize the key points:
- Airplane bottles contain 50 ml or 1.7 oz of liquor
- Standard US shots are typically 1.5 oz
- When converted to tablespoons, the volumes are nearly equal
- Factor like proof, mixing, drinking habits impact equivalency
- Waste can account for differences in actual consumption
So while not a scientifically exact comparison, a standard airplane bottle can generally be considered equal to a typical US shot in practical drinking terms. The actual alcohol consumption depends heavily on the drinking environment, liquor type, mixing, and other factors. But the pour sizes themselves are similar enough that most would consider them equivalent servings.
The FAA’s 50 ml airplane bottle size does a good job approximating the 1-1.5 oz shot size preferred in the US. Of course, the airline bottle regulations are primarily for safety, not for matching domestic bar and restaurant serving sizes. But the approved airplane liquor volume works out conveniently as essentially equivalent to a common single US shot serving.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while there are some minor technical differences between airline bottle and shot sizes, they contain nearly the same volume of liquor. The actual amount of alcohol ultimately depends on factors like proof, mixing, waste, and serving customs. But the defined 50 ml airplane bottle measure can generally be considered equivalent to a typical 1.5 oz US shot for practical drinking purposes. So the next time you are debating whether to order another single shot or pop open another tiny airplane bottle, you can rest assured knowing they both represent about the same amount of liquor and alcohol experience!