Understand the Standard  is brought to you by Responsibility.org, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering adults of legal drinking age to drink responsibly.

This educational program is designed for people of legal drinking age to better understand what a standard serving of alcohol is. This is not intended as a scientific tool for measuring alcohol.

Not all alcohol beverages contain the same amount of alcohol, and there is not one type of alcohol beverage that is safer or more responsible than another. Many lifestyle choices carry potential risks, and the consumption of alcohol is no exception. No one should drink alcohol to obtain potential health benefits and some individuals should not drink at all. No one should drink before they are of the legal drinking age or older as determined by law. Those who choose to drink should adhere to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDGAs) and do so responsibly.

According to the USDGAs, individuals who choose to drink should “consume less alcohol for better overall health.” Guidance on alcohol beverages and health in the USDGAs was informed by a study conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) which defines moderate alcohol consumption as up to “two drinks or 28 grams of alcohol in a day for men and one drink or 14 grams of alcohol in a day for women.” The USDGAs also state that: “people who should completely avoid alcohol include pregnant women, people who are recovering from alcohol use disorder or are unable to control the amount they drink, and people taking medications or with medical conditions that can interact with alcohol. For those with a family history of alcoholism, be mindful of alcohol consumption and associated addictive behaviors.”

Everyone should discuss their alcohol consumption with their health providers — together they can determine what is best for that person based on individual risk factors, such as family history, genetics, and lifestyle.