Measurement
What an Australian standard drink is
Ten grams of alcohol. Not a glass, not a can, not a “nip” unless the maths says so.
- Pure alcohol
- 10 g
- Wine ~13% (about 1)
- 100 mL
- Spirits ~40% (about 1)
- 30 mL
- Full-strength beer ~4.9%
- 285 mL
An Australian standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. The type of drink does not change that — beer, wine, and spirits are counted the same way. Standard drinks are how the NHMRC guidelines are measured.
Definition
Standard drink. A unit of measurement equal to 10 grams of pure alcohol. It is used on Australian labels and in the national guidelines. It is not a serving suggestion and not a target.
Container versus standard drink
| Compare | What people often count | What the label is for |
|---|---|---|
| A restaurant wine pour | Often 150 mL or more — more than one standard drink at 13%. | Read the bottle’s standard-drink statement, then scale to the pour. |
| A 375 mL full-strength beer | Commonly around 1.4–1.5 standard drinks, not one. | The can or stubbie states the number. Use that number. |
| A cocktail | Multiple spirits plus unknown measures. | Treat as more than one unless you know every pour. |
Questions
Questions people actually ask
Ten grams of pure alcohol. NHMRC states that the type of alcohol makes no difference — 10 grams is 10 grams in beer, wine, or spirits, mixed or not.
Put the number next to the guideline
Once you can count standard drinks, the NHMRC weekly and daily figures become usable — and so does the decision not to drink.