What are pint standard drinks in Australia and how is it related to traffic law matters? 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, which is why it's important to know how many standard drinks you're having. The standard drink is used in Australia for a variety of purposes, including:
- Calculating the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of a person who has been drinking alcohol.
- Setting limits on the number of standard drinks that people can consume in a certain period of time.
- Educating people about the risks of alcohol consumption.
In terms of traffic law matters the standard drink is used to determine whether a person can drive after consuming alcohol. In Australia, the legal BAC limit for drivers is 0.05%. This means that a driver with a BAC of 0.05% or higher cannot drive due to alcohol consumption. If they drive, they can be charged with a high range drink-driving offence. Read on to learn more about the pint standard drinks in Australia.
Pint Standard Drinks: How Much Are You Drinking?
A pint is a popular size for beer in Australia, but how many standard drinks does it contain? The answer depends on the alcohol content of your drink. The table below shows the approximate number of standard drinks you are consuming in different servings of alcohol in Australia.
Beer
| Type | Size | Alcohol Volume | Standard Drinks |
| Small glass | 285ml | 4.8% | 1.1 |
| 3.5% | 0.8 | ||
| 2.7% | 0.6 | ||
| Large glass | 425ml | 4.8% | 1.6 |
| 3.5% | 1.2 | ||
| 2.7% | 0.9 | ||
| Bottle | 375ml | 4.8% | 1.4 |
| 3.5% | 1.0 | ||
| 2.7% | 0.8 | ||
| Can | 375ml | 4.8% | 1.4 |
| 3.5% | 1.0 | ||
| 2.7% | 0.8 | ||
| Case | 24 X 375ml | 4.8% | 34 |
| 3.5% | 24 | ||
| 2.7% | 19 |
Wine
| Type | Size | Alcohol Volume | Standard Drinks |
| Glass of red wine (restaurant size) | 150ml | 13.5% | 1.6 |
| Glass of red wine | 100ml | 13.5% | 1.0 |
| Bottle of red wine | 750ml | 13.5% | 8 |
| Cask of red wine – 4 litres | 4 litres | 13.5% | 43 |
| Cask of red wine – 2 litres | 2 litres | 13.5% | 21 |
| Glass of port | 60ml | 17.5 % | 0.9 |
| Cask of port | 2 litres | 17.5 % | 28 |
| Glass of white wine – restaurant | 150ml | 11.5% | 1.4 |
| Glass of white wine | 100ml | 11.5% | 0.9 |
| Bottle of white wine | 750ml | 11.5% | 6.8 |
| Glass of white wine – 4 litres | 4 litres | 11.5% | 36 |
| Cask of white wine – 2 litres | 2 litres | 11.5% | 18 |
| Glass of champagne | 150ml | 12% | 1.4 |
| Bottle of champagne | 750ml | 12% | 7.1 |
Straight Spirits and Ready to Drink Spirits
| Type | Size | Alcohol Volume | Standard Drinks |
| Glass of straight spirits | 30ml | 40% | 1.0 |
| Bottle of straight spirits (High Strength) | 700ml | 40% | 22 |
| Small bottle of full strength ready to drink alcohol | 275ml | 5.0% | 1.1 |
| Medium bottle of full strength ready to drink spirits | 330ml | 5.0% | 1.2 |
| Large bottle of full strength ready to drink spirits | 660ml | 5.0% | 2.6 |
| Small bottle of high strength ready to drink spirits | 275ml | 7.0% | 1.5 |
| Mediumbottle of high strength ready to drink spirits | 330ml | 7.0% | 1.8 |
| Large bottle of high strength ready to drink spirits | 660ml | 7.0% | 3.6 |
Note: Wine, beer and spirits all have varying alcohol concentrations, and the strength of a mixed drink can fluctuate radically based on who is doing the mixing. When combined with poor drunken judgement, it makes calculating your BAC based on the number of drinks per hour extremely inaccurate.
Wine glasses also range significantly in size and volume. Some wine glasses can hold as much as 500mL. An average-sized wine glass holds approximately 250mL.
Why Count Standard Drinks?
It's important to count pint standard drinks so you can drink as safely as possible, especially if you intend to drive afterwards. Knowing the number of standard drinks is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it can help you keep track of how much alcohol you're consuming. This is important because drinking too much alcohol can cause harm, including:
- Liver damage
- High blood pressure; and
- An increased risk of cancer
Secondly, knowing the number of standard drinks can help you stay within the legal limits for driving. The Australian alcohol guidelines recommend that men and women drink:
- No more than 4 standard drinks on any day; and
- No more than 10 standard drinks in a week.
Here are other ways to check pint standard drinks:
- Check the drink label. All alcoholic beverages sold in Australia must have the number of standard drinks listed on the label.
- Use an online calculator. There are several online calculators available that can help you calculate the number of standard drinks in your beverage. This includes the Drinks Calculator and the Standard Drink Calculator.
- Ask the bar or restaurant staff. The staff at bars and restaurants are usually knowledgeable about the drinks they serve. They can tell you how many standard drinks are in each one.
Pint Standard Drinks: Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is a serious offence in Australia. Therefore it's important to know how many standard drinks you can have before getting behind the wheel. As mentioned above, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers is 0.05. This means that if you have more than one standard drink per hour, you may be over the legal limit.
The alcohol laws in Australia are designed to protect the public from the harmful effects of alcohol. They also aim to reduce the number of alcohol-related road accidents and other injuries. If you are planning on drinking alcohol, it is important to be aware of the laws and to drink responsibly. You can read our article here about driving under the influence of alcohol.
Note: This article about pint standard drinks is just a guide. The actual amount of alcohol that you absorb from a drink can vary depending on a number of factors, such as your:
- Body weight;
- Genetics;
- Age;
- Type of alcoholic beverage;
- Food intake;
- Medications in your system;
- Alcohol tolerance; and
- How quickly you drink low strength beer, mid strength beer, and high strength beer.
However, this is not a reason for you to drink as much as you want and then drive after. If you are planning to drink alcohol and drive after, it is best to avoid drinking altogether. You should know how many drinks you are drinking regardless of if it is light beer or full strength beer. If you do choose to drink, make sure to have a designated driver or to take public transportation home.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
