What is a standard drink?
A standard drink in the United States is any drink that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol (about 0.6 fluid ounces or 1.2 tablespoons).(1) Beer is available in 12, 16, 22, 40 and 64 ounce sizes. Malt liquors contain more alcohol than standard beer. A mixed drink, depending on the type of spirits and recipe used, may contain alcohol that constitutes from one to three or more standard drinks. It is vital that the public understands the definition of a standard drink in order to stay within the recommended limits. Below are U.S. standard drink equivalents. These are approximate since different brands and types of beverages vary in their actual alcohol content.
Remember, it is not enough to just count your drinks.
You have to pay attention to size and alcohol content.
Source: NIAAA, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH Publication No. 07-3769, revised January 2007.