Standard drink definition
12 oz of beer (~5% alcohol) 5 oz of wine (~12% alcohol) 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (~40% alcohol)
Each contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol.
Classification Categories
Moderate Drinking (Low-Risk): Men: Up to 2 drinks per day Women: Up to 1 drink per day Older adults (65+): Up to 1 drink per day
Heavy/High-Risk Drinking: Men: More than 4 drinks on any day or 14+ per week Women: More than 3 drinks on any day or 7+ per week
Binge Drinking: Men: 5 or more drinks within about 2 hours Women: 4 or more drinks within about 2 hours
Alcohol Use Disorder
Involves a pattern of alcohol use with impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria of tolerance/withdrawal.
Severity is classified as mild (2-3 symptoms), moderate (4-5 symptoms), or severe (6+ symptoms).