Why are the 12 ounce hard seltzer and 1.5 ounces of liquor both standard drinks?

The concept of a "standard drink" is used to help people understand and measure their alcohol consumption. Both a 12-ounce hard seltzer and 1.5 ounces of liquor are considered standard drinks because they contain approximately the same amount of pure alcohol. Here's a breakdown of why they are both considered standard drinks:

Step 1: Define the Problem

Identify why a 12-ounce hard seltzer and 1.5 ounces of liquor are both considered standard drinks.

Step 2: Break Down the Problem

1. Alcohol Content in Hard Seltzer: Typically, a 12-ounce hard seltzer contains about 5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
2. Alcohol Content in Liquor: A standard serving of liquor (1.5 ounces) usually contains about 40% ABV, which is equivalent to 80 proof.

Step 3: Apply Relevant Concepts

• Calculate Alcohol Content:
  • For hard seltzer: $\text{Volume} \times \text{ABV} = 12 \text{ oz} \times 0.05 = 0.6 \text{ oz of pure alcohol}$
  • For liquor: $\text{Volume} \times \text{ABV} = 1.5 \text{ oz} \times 0.40 = 0.6 \text{ oz of pure alcohol}$

Step 4: Analysis, Verify and Summarize

• Both the hard seltzer and the liquor contain approximately 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol, which is the typical amount in a standard drink.

Final Answer

A 12-ounce hard seltzer and 1.5 ounces of liquor are both considered standard drinks because they each contain about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol, aligning with the definition of a standard drink.