An Easy Way to Drink Less

Here’s an easy way to track alcohol consumption. Multiply the number of ounces in your drink by the percent alcohol by volume (ABV %). Then, multiply by how many drinks you’ve had.

Drink a 5% beer in a 12 oz. bottle and you get 60 points per bottle. Four beers at 5% is 240 points, but at 7%, 336 points. Non-alcoholic beers count as 0, of course.

Wine tends to be 14% alcohol and come in 6 oz. pours. That makes a glass worth 84 points, ± 14 for a heavy or light pour. A whole bottle — 350 points (750 ml / 29.6 ml per ounce * 14). This means a few beers could have as much alcohol as an entire bottle of wine.

A standard shot of liquor is 1.5 oz and double is 3 oz. A strong drink that makes you go woof might hit 4 oz. Since liquor tends to run around 40% ABV, a “shot” could be 60 points, 120, or higher. The same goes for mixed drinks.

Here’s a handy chart to summarize:

Drink	Ounces	ABV (%)	Points
Beer	12	5	60
Wine	6	14	84
Single Shot Liquor	1.5	40	60
Double Shot Liquor	3	40	120

From there, notice how you feel when drinking X number of points. After 400, ordinary people will be hungover. Under 100, you tend to be alright. Figure out your limits; decide on your goals. Track the points over time and arrive at something reasonable.

Measure points and take the guesswork out of drinking. It helps.