What counts as one drink?
One standard drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol, even if the liquid volume of that drink is different. Drinks made individually with distilled spirits (vodka, rum, tequila, gin, soju, etc.) and combined with mixers (soda, juice, flavored sweet mixers), then served in a large cup (such as a plastic party cup) have an unknown level of alcohol content and may be a larger serving than an average “drink.”
Check out this infographic from the CDC about how much alcohol each type of common drink includes.
Canned beverages will have labeled contents with ABV (alcohol by volume, usually a percentage).
Are there guidelines for alcohol use?
Developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide recommendations on what the average American should eat and drink to promote health and help prevent chronic disease.
According to the guidelines (“Rethinking Drinking“), adults of legal drinking age (21+) can choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to two drinks or less in a day for men, and one drink or less in a day for women, when alcohol is consumed.
Drinking less is better for our health than drinking more.
When is having any alcohol too much?
It is safest to avoid alcohol altogether if you:
- Plan to drive a vehicle or operate machinery or engage in other activities that could be hazardous if alertness or coordination is impaired.
- Take certain over-the-counter or prescription medications.(See Core article on medication interactions.)
- Have a medical condition caused or exacerbated by drinking, such as liver disease, bipolar disorder, abnormal heart rhythm, diabetes, hypertension, or chronic pain, among others. (See Core article on medical complications.)
- Are recovering from AUD (alcohol use disorder) or are unable to control the amount that they drink.
- Are younger than the legal drinking age of 21.
- Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
- Experience facial flushing and dizziness when drinking alcohol. Between 30% and 45% of people of East Asian heritage inherit gene variants responsible for an enzyme deficiency that causes these symptoms and amplifies the risk of alcohol-related cancers, particularly head and neck cancer and esophageal cancer, even if they drink at light or moderate levels. People of other races and ethnicities can carry similar variants.
What does current research point to as guidance?
(1) for those who drink, the less, the better
(2) those with a strong family history of cancer or AUD (alcohol use disorder) may wish to minimize risk by abstaining
(3) those who don’t drink alcohol shouldn’t start—as noted in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines—”for any reason.”
USC students who would like to discuss their use of alcohol or other substance can speak with a medical provider (make an appointment in MySHR) or connect with our substance use counseling specialists.