Standard Drinks Calculator

Find out exactly how many standard drinks are in your beverage.

Number of Standard Drinks

1.0

Based on the Canadian standard of 13.45g pure alcohol per standard drink

How is This Calculated?

The formula used is:

Standard Drinks = Volume (mL) × ABV (%) × 0.789 ÷ 13.45

Where 0.789 is the density of ethanol (g/mL), and 13.45 grams is the Canadian definition of one standard drink of pure alcohol.

What is a Standard Drink?

A standard drink is a unit of measurement that represents a fixed amount of pure alcohol, regardless of the type of beverage. In Canada, one standard drink contains 13.45 grams (17.05 mL) of pure ethanol.

This is equivalent to approximately:

🍺

Beer

341 mL (12 oz) at 5% ABV

🍷

Wine

142 mL (5 oz) at 12% ABV

🥃

Spirits

43 mL (1.5 oz) at 40% ABV

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Cocktail

Varies (often 1.5+ std drinks)

Why Standard Drinks Matter for SmartServe

Understanding standard drinks is a critical component of the SmartServe certification exam. As a server, you need to be able to:

  • Track patron consumption — knowing how many standard drinks a patron has had helps you assess their level of intoxication.
  • Recognize over-service — the legal limit in Ontario is 0.08 BAC. Understanding drink equivalents helps prevent serving someone past the legal limit.
  • Educate patrons — many people do not realize that a pint of strong craft beer can contain 2 or more standard drinks, or that a large glass of wine may be equivalent to nearly 2 standard drinks.
  • Make responsible service decisions — when a patron orders "just one more drink," knowing the actual alcohol content helps you decide whether to continue serving.

Common Misconceptions

  • "One drink = one standard drink" — False. A 16 oz pint of 7% craft beer contains about 2 standard drinks.
  • "Wine is lighter than spirits" — A typical restaurant pour (6 oz at 14%) is about 1.4 standard drinks, nearly the same as a standard shot of spirits.
  • "Cocktails count as one drink" — Many cocktails contain 2-3 standard drinks worth of alcohol, especially those with multiple spirits.

Alcohol Metabolism Facts

The average person metabolizes approximately one standard drink per hour. This rate varies based on body weight, gender, food consumption, and individual metabolism. Key facts:

  • Nothing speeds up alcohol metabolism — not coffee, cold showers, or exercise
  • Food slows the absorption of alcohol but does not speed up elimination
  • Alcohol dehydrogenase (the enzyme that breaks down alcohol) works at a fixed rate
  • A person who has had 5 standard drinks at midnight will still have alcohol in their system at 5 AM

Test Your Knowledge

Practice standard drinks questions and more in our mock exam.

Take Mock Exam Standard Drinks Questions