What percentage of alcohol is found in a standard drink of distilled spirits?

A standard drink of distilled spirits typically contains about 40% alcohol by volume (ABV). This standardization helps consumers understand the alcohol content they are consuming, regardless of the type of beverage. For instance, a standard drink in the U.S. is generally defined as containing 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol, which is found in about 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (like whiskey, vodka, or rum). The 40% ABV represents a common strength for many spirits, making it a benchmark for comparing different alcoholic beverages.

The other listed percentages do not accurately reflect the average alcohol content in distilled spirits. Most beers and wines have much lower ABV percentages, typically around 5% and 12-14%, respectively, while 60% ABV would indicate a very concentrated spirit, which is less common in standard drink measurements.