A single 12-ounce beer is equivalent to a 1 1/2-ounce shot of hard alcohol, such as whiskey, vodka or rum. This same amount is equivalent to a 5-ounce glass of red or white wine.
The reason that it takes less hard alcohol to be the equivalent of a beer is due to the alcohol by volume, or ABV, amount. A typical beer has between 4 and 7 percent ABV, while wine ranges from 11 to 13 percent ABV. Distilled spirits can range from between 40 percent alcohol, or 80 proof, all the way up to 96 percent alcohol, or 192 proof.
