What is Alcohol?

What we commonly call “alcohol” is the chemical ethanol. The yeast enzyme zymase changes simple sugars in potatoes, corn or other cereals, or grapes into ethanol, which is found in:

• Beer and malt liquor.
• Wine.
• Liquor (distilled spirits like vodka, whiskey, etc.)
• “Wine coolers” fruit-flavored drinks.
• Liqueurs (like creme de menthe.)

How much is “a drink” of alcohol?

A standard drink is 12 grams of pure ethanol, which equals:

• 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler.
• 8 ounces of malt liquor.
• 5 ounces of wine.
• 1 1/2 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (whiskey, etc.)

In other words, a can of beer contains as much ethanol as a shot of liquor. Malt liquor, which looks and tastes a lot like beer, contains 50% more ethanol per ounce than regular beer.