HOW DO THE FOLLOWING COMPARE IN THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THEY CONTAIN: 12 OZ. BEER(5% ALCOHOL), 12 OZ. WINE COOLER(5% ALCOHOL), 1 1/2 OZ. OF 80 PROOF LIQUOR, 5 OZ. OF WINE(12% ALCOHOL)?
A. THE WINE HAS THE LOWEST ALCOHOL CONTENT
B. THE BEER HAS THE LOWEST ALCOHOL CONTENT
C. THE LIQUOR HAS THE GREATEST ALCOHOL CONTENT
D. ALL FOUR CONTAIN ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF PURE ALCOHOL
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
When comparing the alcohol content of different beverages, it’s essential to consider both their volume and alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage. Let’s analyze the given drinks:
- 12 oz. beer (5% ABV):
- Calculation: 12 oz × 0.05 = 0.6 oz of pure alcohol.
- 12 oz. wine cooler (5% ABV):
- Calculation: 12 oz × 0.05 = 0.6 oz of pure alcohol.
- 1.5 oz. of 80-proof liquor:
- Understanding Proof: In the U.S., proof is twice the ABV. Thus, 80-proof liquor is 40% ABV.
- Calculation: 1.5 oz × 0.40 = 0.6 oz of pure alcohol.
- 5 oz. of wine (12% ABV):
- Calculation: 5 oz × 0.12 = 0.6 oz of pure alcohol.
As the calculations show, each beverage contains approximately 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. This equivalence is the basis for the concept of a “standard drink” in the United States, which typically contains about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol, regardless of the type of beverage.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
D. All four contain about the same amount of pure alcohol.