How Much Alcohol Do You Really Drink?

Be honest: We kid ourselves when we pour

This year I set out to do Dry January, but ended up doing a tidier version I’m calling Dry Jan, which ended after a couple weeks. Just being forthright here, so you know I’m not preaching. While I’m fully aware that alcohol is bad for my health, I enjoy it. I acknowledge I’m making a tradeoff between temporary joy and long-term health, and I try to moderate my intake. I eat ice cream sometimes, too. OK, I eat ice cream a lot. I love ice cream!

Otherwise I have a pretty healthy diet, exercise regularly, and sleep well most nights. I lean into moderation in many things. But that’s not what I came here to tell you.

Here’s the confession I feel compelled to make:

When I pour myself a stiff drink or a glass of wine, I don’t typically measure the serving size. When I do get precise, I’m always surprised how little booze is in “one drink.” Just last night, for example, I was drinking vodka with fresh-squeezed lemon, and I didn’t bother to measure. I’m feeling the effects of that imprecision today.

I also like beer, which conveniently comes in pre-measured single servings. Thing is, many brews today pack more alcohol by volume than a typical beer back in the day. I used to drink a couple Michelobs and sleep fine. They’re around 4.2% ABV. Now, two microbrew IPAs—at 6% to 7% ABV—is a dodgy proposition for this 150-pound aging guy.

Is it just me?

What’s in your glass?

When scientists, doctors and other experts talk about “one drink,” here’s what they mean: