With the holidays fast approaching us and the spreading of “good cheer”, some important things to remember before you drink:

Not all alcoholic drinks are created equal.  Let’s test your knowledge to see what you know.

A standard shot of  80 proof liquor, like rum, vodka, whiskey, scotch or brandy is equal to:

A. 2 fl oz

B. 1 fl oz

C. 1.5 fl oz

D. .5 fl oz

A standard glass of wine is equal to:

A. 6 fl oz

B. 5 fl oz

C. 5.5 fl oz

D. None of the above

A standard serving of beer or wine cooler is equal to:

A. 12 fl oz

B. 8 fl oz

C. 10 fl oz

D. 6 fl oz

 Let’s see how well you did!

 

 

Also, alcoholic energy drinks can contain up to 12% of alcohol in a 23.5 ounce can.  That’s like drinking 3-4 bottles of a 12 ounce beer.

Check the label for alcohol content.  The hire the proof of alcohol listed, the higher the percentage of pure alcohol. 

Your liver is the organ responsible for getting rid of most poisons, so it’s responsible for getting rid of (metabolizing) any alcohol in your system. The body’s ability to metabolize alcohol varies greatly from person to person, but in general, the liver can only metabolize about 1 ounce of alcohol per hour. That’s approximately the amount of alcohol in one standard drink. 

The amount of food you have eaten, your height, weight and gender all affect how quickly alcohol is metabolized and how much is absorbed into your system.  If you chose to drink alcohol, it’s important to be aware of how much alcohol is in the drink, so you can make informed decisions. 

The intent of this information is to educate persons of legal drinking age, which in the state of Pennsylvania is 21 years or older. Neither ButlerFirstStep.org nor any of it’s affiliates promote underage drinking.  If you feel you may have a problem or someone you care about has problem with the consumption of alcohol, click on the “how to find help” button above for a list of local drug and alcohol providers.