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. 2023 Nov 2;43(1):04. doi: 10.35946/arcr.v43.1.04

Table 1.

Alcohol Consumption: Drink Sizes and Drinking Levels in Select Countries

Defining Drinking Levels
United States Iceland and United Kingdom China, France, Ireland, and Spain Austria
Standard drink23 0.6 fluid oz or 14 g pure alcohol (12 oz regular beer, 5 oz wine, or 1.5 oz distilled spirits) 8 g pure alcohol 10 g pure alcohol 20 g pure alcohol
Binge drinking23 Pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher in 2 hours (four or more U.S. standard drinks in women; five or more U.S. standard drinks in men)
Heavy drinking23 Women: Consuming more than three drinks per day or more than seven drinks per week Men: Consuming more than four drinks per day or more than 14 drinks per week
World Health Organization: Alcohol Consumption Categories 16
Abstainer Consumed no alcohol in lifetime or in past 12 months
Former drinker Previously drank alcohol but no consumption in the past 12 months
Consumer Consumed alcohol in the past 12 months
Heavy episodic drinker Consumed 60 g or more alcohol on at least one occasion in the past 30 days