THE ABCs OF ABVs:
WHEN RAISING A GLASS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, KNOWING HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS IN YOUR DRINK IS KEY TO RESPONSIBLE, MODERATE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
9 out of 10 adult Americans lack knowledge about standard drink equivalence
New holiday campaign urges Americans to remember the ABCs of ABVs:
A – alcohol is alcohol, B – be mindful of alcohol content, and C – consume in moderation
WASHINGTON – With the holidays in full swing, it’s a time of celebration with family, friends and coworkers. That often means raising a glass to toast to the season. But a recent survey found that the overwhelming majority of adult Americans who choose to raise a glass of their favorite alcohol beverage this season do not understand that a standard drink of beer or wine has the same amount of alcohol as a standard drink of distilled spirits, such as whisky, vodka or rum.
To help educate adult Americans on standard drinks and the need for moderation this holiday season and beyond, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) is launching a new public education campaign – The ABCs of ABVs. The new campaign will reach adult Americans by sharing facts and information about the Dietary Guidelines and the standard drink through traditional and online media outlets, social media, and the website StandardDrinks.org.
“A beer, glass of wine or cocktail can be part of an enjoyable and balanced lifestyle for most adults. And as Americans celebrate this holiday season, it’s important to remember that moderation is key,” said registered dietitian Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RDN, LD, a spokesperson for the ABCs of ABVs campaign. “It’s not what you drink, it’s how much you drink that counts – and knowing the definition of a standard drink is an important tool in practicing responsible drinking.
“We urge Americans who choose to celebrate with their favorite alcohol beverage this season to remember the ABCs of ABVs:
A – alcohol is alcohol
B – be mindful of alcohol content,
C – consume in moderation.”
The 2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize that adults who choose to drink should do so responsibly and in moderation and note that there are some people who should not drink at all. The Guidelines define moderate drinking as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. But many Americans might wonder – what is considered a drink? It all comes down to what’s known as “alcohol by volume” – or ABV – which is the amount of alcohol in a container of alcohol.
According to the Dietary Guidelines, examples of a standard drink equivalent are: 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (at 40% ABV), 5 fluid ounces of wine (at 12% ABV), or 12 ounces of regular beer or a ready-to-drink convenience cocktail (at 5% ABV). Each of these drinks has the same amount of alcohol in them – 0.6 fluid ounces of ethanol. Because drinks come in a variety of types and container sizes, consumers can find out how many drinks are in their beverage by using the calculator on StandardDrinks.org.
This standard drink equivalence is a well-established standard used by health and traffic safety experts in the U.S., including federal and state agencies and public health authorities to promote moderate and responsible alcohol consumption. But the reality is that the standard drink isn’t as well understood by the average American. A national survey earlier this year found that nearly 9 out of 10 adults in the United States (88%) do not know that a standard drink of distilled spirits has the same amount of alcohol as a standard drink of other alcohol beverages such as beer or wine.
“Promoting responsible alcohol consumption practices and education is important year-round, but even more so during this season of celebration – when it’s more likely that people will encounter and consume alcohol beverages than just about any other time of the year,” said Chris Swonger, President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and Responsibility.org. “Educating Americans on the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for alcohol consumption and what constitutes a standard drink will help ensure they have the information they need to consume responsibly and in moderation during the holidays and beyond.”
To learn more about the ABCs of ABVs campaign, click here. To learn more about standard drinks and the Dietary Guidelines for alcohol, please visit StandardDrinks.org. Consumers should also talk about alcohol consumption with their healthcare providers, who can help determine what is best for them based on personal factors such as family and medical history.
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The Distilled Spirits Council is a Strategic National Partner to USDA in disseminating the messages of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. DISCUS members are committed to responsibility and encourage adults who drink to do so in moderation. For more information visit www.distilledspirits.org.