These holidays are gearing up to be meaningful after a year of hardship. Now, many people have an opportunity to see family members after months of distance safely. These exciting opportunities might even push some people to put out some alcohol to celebrate the moment appropriately. Unfortunately, alcohol may be an excellent way to celebrate, many people drink to the point of blacking out. This holiday season, be sure to celebrate properly, and more importantly, safely by learning more about standard drink size, alcohol content, and effects of alcohol consumption.
What is a standard drink?
Many people may have different definitions or measures of what a standard drink is, which creates inaccurate measurement of alcohol. Many more are surprised to hear that, in the US, a standard drink contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol. Understanding the measurements, another way to think about a standard drink is based on the following measurements:
- 12 ounces of regular beer (about 5% alcohol)
- 5 ounces of wine (about 12% alcohol)
- 8 ounces of malt liquor (about 8% alcohol)
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (about 40% alcohol)
These proportions are different, but all are roughly equal to one standard drink. Thus, understanding how much a standard drink helps people develop a better understanding of what they are drinking and their limits.
What is alcohol by volume?
Alcohol by volume (ABV) is the measurement of alcohol content in a standard drink. It is important to always check a bottle of alcohol and take note of what the ABV is; moreover, to know how these differences may look like when pouring your drinks. For example, let’s consider the difference between drinking 6 beers and 6 shots of hard alcohol: a beer is about 12 ounces while 6 shots of hard alcohol is about 7.5 ounces. On the one hand, drinking six beers can feel like a lot since it is about 72 ounces, but some people may only feel a little bit drunk. On the other hand, taking six shots is less than a box of juice, but it can be extremely dangerous to consume this amount in a short period of time. Therefore, it is essential people know the ABV as well as their standard drink sizes to stay safe during the holidays.
The 7 stages of alcohol intoxication:
1. Sobriety
The stage people are at after having about 1 drink. Depending on the person, their judgement and reaction time might be slightly impaired.
2. Euphoria
In this stage, people are considered “tipsy” and inhibitions begin to decline. People begin to feel more confident, talkative, and become more energetic.
3. Excitement
People who reach the excitement stage are visibly drunk. At this stage, individuals may become emotionally unstable, lack critical judgement, and have a delayed reaction time. At this stage people could also slur their words, lose their balance, become drowsy, have nausea and vomiting, or have vision issues.
4. Confusion
This stage is where most people begin to “black out”: individuals who reach the point of blacking out will likely forget things that happened. Coordination become minimal as people may not be able to stand up due to feeling dizzy. There is also a sense of disorientation and emotional upheaval.
5. Stupor
When people reach the stage of stupor, they are extremely intoxicated and at great risk of alcohol poisoning and death. There is a significant loss of motor function and little to no reaction to stimuli. Individuals in this stage are unable to stand or walk, completely passed out (or inactive), unable to control bodily functions, and vomiting.
6. Coma
People at this stage are unable to maintain vital bodily functions and are at risk of respiratory arrest and death.
7. Death
Note that death is possible at most stages.
While these holidays are exciting times, be sure to stay safe while drinking. Understanding ABV, standard drinks, and stages of intoxication are good ways to keep track of when to stop. Try mixing water in between drinks or eating food to help break up the time between drinks. Reaching any of these stages, be sure to have an alternative to driving, such as uber or a friend who is the designated driver. This holiday season, be sure to have fun while staying safe with your drinking.
Resources and References:
https://sunrisehouse.com/stop-drinking-alcohol/stages-intoxication/
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/what-standard-drink
