To continue our ongoing discussion on the issues of alcohol abuse and alcoholism — last week we talked about the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse, the signs and symptoms of alcoholism and the latest addiction to the classifications of alcohol use - so I thought today we’d talk about a detail that we might have missed. Size.

Size Matters Where Alcohol is Concerned

The problem with gauging how much you drink comes with the variance in the amount of alcohol that comes in each drink. A 12-ounce beer has about the same amount of alcohol has a 5-ounce glass of wine or a 1.5 ounce shot of spirits (or a mixed drink made with 1.5 ounces of spirits). But is that beer you ordered at the restaurant really 12 ounces? Is that glass of wine 5 ounces? If you ordered a gin and tonic and it came in a ball glass, then it’s most likely a regularly sized drink. If you got a Long Island Iced Tea, however, you’ve got way more than 1.5 ounces of spirits in your glass.

What Your Liver Can Handle

There are some differing opinions on this, but your most agree that your liver can successfully clear one liquor drink and two glasses of wine or two beers in a day. And no, you can’t ‘save up’ and have 15 drinks over the weekend and cash in on a week’s worth of sobriety. Remember that alcohol is a toxin. Drink too much and your liver can’t process the alcohol, leaving the unprocessed alcohol to damage your liver. But if you think you’re drinking the moderate amount that is safe for your liver but you’re still having problems, check the amount of alcohol that’s in your drinks.

What the Experts Have to Say About Alcohol Content in Drinks

William C. Kerr is a senior scientist with the Alcohol Research Group at the Public Health Institute and first author of a study on alcohol content in drinks served in restaurants. He says:

“There are a number of factors that influence the alcohol content of drinks. These include glass size; percent alcohol by volume (%ABV) of the beer, wine or spirit, for example a 15-percent wine versus an 11-percent wine, or a six-percent beer compared to a 4.2-percent light beer; accidental pour variability; and probably most important, the intentions of management and the bartender.”

Alcohol-content information is not often available in many bars and restaurants, so this study was pretty revealing. Kerr found:  “First, the typical wine, beer or mixed spirits drink in bars is larger than a standard drink, often by 50 percent or more. Second, within these beverage types, the alcohol content can vary widely. Third, particular beverage types and drink types vary in average alcohol content and variability.”

The average glass of wine? 43 percent larger than a standard drink. The average draft beer? 22 percent larger than the standard. Drinks mixed with spirits? 42 percent larger than the standard.

What About You?

Do you have a problem with alcohol abuse? Did it start with oversized drinks in the restaurants over dinner with a client? Or too many cocktails over lunch or after work with friends? It doesn’t matter how alcohol abuse begins. What matters is that you stop in time to save your body from irreversible damage. If you have any questions about alcohol abuse and alcoholism, check out the informative articles available at The Canyon.

Tags: alcohol abuse, Alcohol Rehab, alcoholism treatment

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 am in Alcohol Rehab, Alcoholism, News