Alcohol Content

Some forms of alcohol are measured by the "proof" of the alcohol, which is an indication of its alcoholic content; for example, a form of alcohol that is 80 proof is actually composed of 40 percent ethyl alcohol. Distilled beverages are generally in the range of 80 proof or higher and are often referred to as "hard liquor."

In general, beer and wine manufacturers do not provide information on the containers that includes the proof of the alcohol. Nonetheless, their alcohol content is usually noted on the container in terms of percentage by volume. Wine is usually in the 12-15 percent range, and beer and other fermented beverages such as hard cider are generally in the 3 to 6 percent range. Some states have specific requirements regarding the allowable percentage of alcohol in various beverages.

When considering different types of alcohol and the alcohol content of major forms of alcoholic beverages, in general, 12 ounces of beer is equivalent to five ounces of wine and to 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. As a result, a smaller absolute quantity of distilled spirits is needed in order for a person to become intoxicated than if the individual were drinking beer or wine.

One common myth about alcohol is that it is not possible for beer or wine drinkers to become alcoholics, because of the lower alcohol content of beer or wine compared to spirits (also known as "hard liquor"). This is not true; some individuals who exclusively or primarily drink beer or wine may also become alcoholics.

Per Capita Consumption of Alcohol

In the United States, beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage, and the per capita consumption in gallons of beer for individuals ages 14 and older was 1.22 gallons in 2003, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). States varied widely in their per capita consumption of beer, from a low of 0.77 per capita gallon in Utah to a high of 1.69 in Wyoming.

When considering the per capita consumption of spirits, the percentage of consumption in 2003 was the lowest in Utah (0.39 gallons per year) and the highest in New Hampshire (1.61 gallons).

In considering all forms of alcohol, the national per capita (per person) average was 2.22 gallons, with a low of 1.31 gallons in Utah to a high of 4.03 gallons in New Hampshire.

Information is also available on the per capita assumption of alcohol by region. In considering beer consumption, the Midwest led slightly at 1.28 gallons of beer per capita, followed closely by the South at 1.27 gallons. The Northeast had the lowest per capita beer consumption of 1.11 gallons in 2003. In considering only the per capita consumption of wine, the West led at 0.46 gallon, followed by the Northeast at 0.41. Individuals in the Midwest (0.26 gallon) and the South (0.27 gallon) consumed significantly less wine.

Blood Alcohol Levels

In past years, the states set different levels of alcohol in the bloodstream as a measure beyond which the person was considered to be legally intoxicated under state law. Today, because of federal requirements, all states in the United States use 0.08 as the blood alcohol level above which a person is legally intoxicated. In addition, all states have zero tolerance laws that apply to individuals below 21 years, which mean that if those younger than age 21 have any measurable amount of alcohol in their blood, they are considered to be legally intoxicated under the law.

A person driving a vehicle who has a proven blood alcohol level that exceeds the legal limit is legally intoxicated and may be charged with "driving while intoxicated" (DWI) or "driving under the influence" (DUI) as well as other offenses that are defined by law enforcement. Punishments may be severe for such crimes, particularly if a car crash occurs and/or if others are injured by the intoxicated person. The punishment may be a fine, suspension, or revocation of a driver's license; in some cases it may include a jail or prison sentence.

Breath, blood, or urine tests can determine whether a person is legally intoxicated under the laws of the state. In many states, if the apparently intoxicated person refuses to take a test for intoxication, then he or she is automatically regarded as intoxicated, regardless of the reason for the refusal.

Driving While Intoxicated and the Risk for Death

The risk for death dramatically increases with a rising blood alcohol level. For example, according to a 2003 article in Alcohol Research & Health, young men ages 16-20, who drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or greater carry a risk of death in a car crash that is 15,560 times greater than males who do not drink.

References:

1)         Gwinnell, Esther, M.D., and Christine Adamec. The Encyclopedia of Addictions and Addictive Behaviors. New York: Facts On File, 2006.

2)         Hingson, Ralph, and Michael Winter. "Epidemiology and Consequences of Drinking and Driving." Alcohol Research & Health 27, no. 1 (2003): 63-70.

3)         Lakins, Nekisha, et al., "Apparent Per Capita Alcohol Consumption, National State and Regional Trends, 1977-2003," Surveillance Report # 73. Bethesda, Md.: National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, August 2005.

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