|
Alcohol
Alcohol is a generic term for ethanol, which is a particular type
of alcohol produced by the fermentation of many foodstuffs.
Ethanol is a depressant and it affects the brain. It can produce
feelings like euphoria and relaxation, continued consumption will
results in alcohol intoxication. Common symptoms are slurred speech,
poor coordination, slowed reflex actions, impaired judgement, etc.
High doses of alcohol may result in comma or even death.
Measurement / Standard drink
A standard "drink" of alcohol consists of 10 grams. Different
drinks contain different amounts of alcohol; most are labelled with
their percentage of alcohol by volume.
To calculate the number of standard drinks a particular beverage serving
represents you find out how much alcohol is in the drink, multiply
by 0.79 (the density of alcohol and needed to convert a volumetric
percentage to grams) and then calculate how many standard drinks that
represents.
Examples:
A 285ml glass of 4.9% (full strength) beer = 285
x 0.049 x 0.79 = 11.03g alcohol
11.03g / 10g = 1.10 standard drinks.
A 375ml can of 3.5% (mid strength) beer = 375 x 0.035 x 0.79 =
10.36g alcohol
10.36g / 10g = 1.03 standard drinks.
A 180ml glass of 12% alcohol wine = 180 x 0.12 x 0.79 = 17.06g
alcohol
17.06g / 10g = 1.71 standard drinks.
A 30ml glass of 40% spirit = 30 x 0.4 x 0.79 = 9.48g alcohol
9.48g / 10g = 0.95 standard drinks.
The following lists the volume of different types of alcohol in
a standard drink:
| Regular Beer (4.9% alcohol content) |
250ml |
| Light Beer (2.7% alcohol content) |
460ml |
| Wine (12% alcohol content) |
100ml |
| Port / Sherry (18% alcohol content) |
66ml |
| Hard liquor (40% alcohol content, 80 "proof") |
30ml |
|
