A standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol regardless of the size of the container (glass, bottle, can) or type of alcohol (beer, wine, spirit).
A standard drink is always equal to 10 g of pure alcohol.
Drink driving is a factor in about one in every seven crashes in NSW where someone is killed so if you are wondering about how much alcohol you can drink and still be safe to drive the simple and safe answer is, zero. Legally, NSW has three blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits: zero, under 0.02 and under 0.05.
A standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol. This is equal to: 285 mL of full strength beer. 425 mL of low strength beer.
It's important to remember that one alcoholic beverage doesn't always equal one standard drink. As a guide: 375ml can low-strength beer (2.7% alcohol) = 0.8 standard drinks. 375ml can mid-strength beer (3.5% alcohol) = 1 standard drink. 375ml can full-strength beer (4.8% alcohol) = 1.4 standard drinks.
In Australia, a standard drink is any alcoholic drink that contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. Many alcoholic drinks contain more than one 'standard drink'. The number of standard drinks in an alcoholic drink varies depending on the type of alcohol (e.g. beer, wine, spirit) and the size of the glass or container.
Blood alcohol limits
Your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measures the amount of alcohol you have in your system. NSW has three blood alcohol limits for drivers: zero, under 0.02 and under 0.05. The limit that applies to you depends on your licence and the type of vehicle you are driving.
And when it comes to wine, the following can be used as a guide: In an average glass of red wine 150ml (13.5% alcohol) served at a restaurant you're consuming 1.6 standard drinks. In an average glass of white wine 150ml (11.5% alcohol) served at a restaurant you're consuming 1.4 standard drinks.
Spirits (40% alcohol) • A nip or shot (30ml) of spirits (e.g. vodka, gin) contains 1 standard drink. Note: Premix spirit strength varies according to the type and brand.
On average it takes at least one hour for your body to clear one small alcoholic drink. For some people it can take longer. That is, at least one hour to clear a middy of beer, or a small (100ml) glass of wine, or a standard nip of spirits. There is no way to speed up the rate your body breaks down alcohol.
In some cases, the breathalyzer may detect alcohol for up to 12 hours. In other individuals, the breathalyzer test may work for twice that long. Although the average person metabolizes about 1 alcoholic drink per hour, this rate varies.
allow at least one hour for your body to process each standard drink. So, for example, if you've had five full strength pots of beers or four glasses of wine, you'd need to wait at least six hours before thinking about getting behind the wheel.
A general rule of thumb is not to drive if you feel even the slightest effects of drinking. If you must take a drink or two, remember that our bodies metabolize one drink per hour. You might feel like you're good to go if you wait a few hours after drinking, especially if you dilute the alcohol by drinking water.
Drinks per hour rule
The general rule of thumb is that 2 standard drinks in the first hour will raise your BAC to 0.05%, and 1 standard per hour thereafter will maintain that level. To do a quick calculation of whether you are over 0.05% BAC, simply take the number of hours since your first drink and add 1 to it.
Formula for Standard Drinks
The formula is outlined below: Volume of beverage in Litres, multiplied by the percentage of alcohol volume, multiplied by 0.789, equals the number of standard drinks. (0.789 is the specific gravity of ethyl alcohol).
In Australia, a standard drink refers to 10 grams of alcohol. On average, this is how much the human body can process in one hour.
Generally, a single shot is equal to 35 ml in Northern Ireland and Scotland and 25 ml in Wales and England. There is no official size for a single shot, except in Utah, where a shot is defined as 1.5 US fl oz (44.4 ml). Elsewhere in the U.S., the standard size is generally considered to be 1.25–1.5 US fl oz (37–44 ml).
In America, the standard shot glass is 1.5 ounces or 44 milliliters. But it's important to note that not all shot glasses are created equal. Some are larger, and some are smaller. The size of a shot glass can vary depending on the country and even the bar you're drinking at.
A mini or nip has 50 milliliters, and will give you one shot. A quarter pint is 100 milliliters and will give you two shots. A half pint, 200 milliliters, will yield four shots.
Drink limit advice
As a guide, limit your drinking to these amounts to stay below 0.05 BAC: for men: no more than 2 standard drinks in the first hour, and no more than 1 every hour after that. for women: no more than 1 standard drink in the first hour, and no more than 1 every hour after that.
A serving of alcohol in a pub or club can often be larger than a 'standard' drink, for example a standard glass of wine is 100ml but a typical serve may be 150ml.
Serving size vs standard drink size
Often, alcoholic drinks which are purchased contain more than one standard drink. A serving of alcohol in a pub or club can be larger than a 'standard' drink, for example a standard drink of wine is 100ml but a typical serve may be 150ml.
While it's illegal to drink alcohol while driving in Australia, no matter whether you're under the limit or not, Australia has no specific laws against eating or drinking non-alcoholic beverages while driving.
After a heavy night of drinking, it can take over 18 hours for your BAC to fall back to zero. In fact, many people are charged with drink driving offences the day after a night out.
In Australia, it is an offence to drive while your BAC is 0.05 or above*. Your BAC should remain below 0.05 if you: drink no more than two standard drinks in the first hour and one per hour thereafter (for men of average size); or.