People who drink alcohol can benefit from medical advice on drinking.

Anyone who drinks alcohol should know an important fact. That is, standard drinks all contain the same amount of pure alcohol. A standard drink is any of these.

• • 12-ounce bottle or can of regular beer
  • 5-ounce glass of dinner wine
  • One and 1/2 ounce shot drink of distilled spirits.

Each of these is the same to a breathalyzer. They also have similar benefits for health and long life.

Moderate Drinking

Knowing about this alcohol equivalence can help people drink in moderation. The American Dietetic Association says “Knowing the facts of beverage alcohol equivalence is a crucial aspect of responsible drinking.”¹ Thus, people won’t be fooled by the myth that drinking “hard liquor” leads more quickly to intoxication than other alcoholic beverages.

In a poll of doctors, 95% said it is important that people understand standard drinks. And 98% believe it important for doctors to say this and other facts about drinking.

The study was made by the American Medical Women’s Association. It’s the oldest and largest multispecialty group of women doctors in the world.²

Dr. Raymond Scaletter is former head of the American Medical Association. He says “Incorporating standard drink facts into routine exams will help stress moderation and to identify alcohol abuse.” The medical leader says that it’s important for doctors to “reinforce moderate drinking.”

What is Moderate Drinking?

The U.S. government defines moderate drinking simply. It’s a man drinking up to two drinks daily. For a woman, it’s having up to one drink daily.

Many other countries have much higher limits. The science is the same everywhere. However, some countries have a temperance background whereas others don’t. And these limits are set politically and culturally.

Resources: Medical Advice on Drinking Alcohol

Web Pages

• • Standard Drinks & Alcohol Equivalence.
  • What Is Moderate Drinking?
  • Alcohol and Health.

Books

• • Haerens, M. Alcohol. Detroit: Green, 2012.
  • NIAAA. Alcohol Health and Research World (mag). Wash: NIAAA.
  • Thomas, M. The Longevity List. NSW, Aust: Exisle, 2017.

References

1. 1. Am Dietetic Assn. Nutrition Fact Sheet
   2. Am Med Women’s Assn.