What is a standard drink in Australia?

• A. A standard drink contains 10 grams of ethanol; about 285 mL of mid-strength beer, 100 mL of wine, or 30 mL of spirits.
• B. A standard drink contains 20 grams of ethanol.
• C. A standard drink is any amount of wine.
• D. A standard drink is defined by the number of drinks per week.

Answer: (A)

A standard drink is a fixed amount of pure alcohol used to compare drinks across beverage types. In Australia, one standard drink contains 10 grams of ethanol, which roughly corresponds to about 285 mL of mid-strength beer, 100 mL of wine, or 30 mL of spirits. This standard unit helps people measure and track alcohol intake consistently, regardless of the drink type, so you can compare what you’re consuming against guidelines.

The idea isn’t about the number of drinks per week; it’s about how much alcohol is in each serving. A drink of 20 grams of ethanol would be twice a standard drink, while any amount of wine isn’t a standard drink by itself since a standard drink is a defined amount of ethanol, not a quantity of wine.