What is a drink?

What is a standard drink?

It's important to know what and how much you are drinking. Familiarize yourself with the facts about alcohol before you choose to drink.

• Beer – 12 fl oz regular beer = about 5% alcohol
• Malt Liquor – 8-9 fl oz (shown in 12 oz glass) = about 7% alcohol
• Table Wine – 5 fl oz = about 12% alcohol
• Hard Liquor - 1.5 fl oz shot of 80 proof spirits (whiskey, gin, rum, vodka, tequila, etc.) = about 40% alcohol (Mixed drinks may contain multiple types of alcohol.)

How much are you drinking?

If you are under the age of 21, any alcohol is too much since it is illegal to drink alcohol.

Keep track of the drinks you consume and the amount of alcohol in them. This way you can estimate your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and the impact on your metabolism. Your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the percentage of alcohol in your blood. With the same alcohol intake, the BAC level will vary among people because of differences in body weight, sex, body fat percentage and  gender.

In Washington State a 0.08% BAC or a marijuana THC concentration of 5.0% or higher is considered drunk driving. If you receive a DUI ticket (driving under the influence) for either alcohol or drugs, it carries harsh consequences.  You can face criminal penalties in court and administrative penalties with the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL), and your driver’s license is suspended. The severity of your punishment may vary based on your blood alcohol level.

Employees of the Federal Aviation Administration who are in safety-sensitive positions must test below a BAC of 0.02 if returning to work within eight hours. FAA employees with a BAC of 0.04 or greater will be removed from safety-sensitive positions.