Did you know beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol?

Every alcohol drink contains ethanol and that’s what affects you, rather than the type of drink you choose.
Did you know beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol?
Did you know beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol?

All alcohol drinks contain ethanol, but the amount can vary

Whether you drink beer, wine or spirits, they all contain the same type of alcohol called ethanol. This is created when either fruits or grains are fermented to produce alcohol drinks. It’s the ethanol in these drinks that affects your mood and reactions – and ethanol affects you in the same way, regardless of what type of drink you choose.

Of course, different drinks have different concentrations of alcohol. This is generally expressed as the percentage of alcohol by volume or ABV. You‘ve probably noticed that bottles and cans often include the strength of the drink as ABV on the label. It’s the ABV that can help you be aware of how much alcohol is in your drink.

  • Spirits have the highest concentration of alcohol and most contain around 40% ABV. Strength can vary considerably, however. Some vodkas contain 30% ethanol, while some bourbons may be around 60% ABV and certain ‘high proof’ spirits can have up to 95% alcohol content.
  • Liqueurs, which are also spirits-based, generally contain less alcohol and their ABV may be below 20%.
  • Wine is less concentrated than spirits and generally contains between 12 and 15% ABV. However, some wines can be stronger, and fortified wines like port or sherry are usually around 20% ABV. The alcohol concentration in beer as a category is lowest, and most regular beer ranges between 4% and 10% ABV. Some craft beers may be comparable in strength to certain wines at around 12% ABV.
  • The alcohol concentration in beer as a category is lowest, and most regular beer ranges between 4% and 10% ABV. Some craft beers may be comparable in strength to certain wines at around 12% ABV.
Infographic explaining how much alcohol is present in one unit in Belgium, as well as the number of units in beer, wine and spirits.
Infographic explaining how much alcohol is present in one unit in Belgium, as well as the number of units in beer, wine and spirits.

How drinking affects you depends on how quickly and how much you drink, and on how much alcohol is in your drink

Factors such as your body size and weight, biological sex and age influence how you process alcohol and how drinking can therefore affect you (1-4). Most importantly, this also depends on how much you drink, which is determined by the concentration (ABV) of the drink you’ve chosen and how quickly you drink it. Whether this alcohol comes as beer, wine or spirits is less important.

Knowing the ABV of your drink is very useful and can help you choose your beverage and anticipate its effect on you.

Graphic image of two wine glasses. One with a small wine serving and the other with a large wine serving.
Graphic image of two wine glasses. One with a small wine serving and the other with a large wine serving.

A "unit of alcohol" is not always equivalent to a "glass"

In Belgium, the term "unit" Is used as a reference to measure alcohol consumption and to set health guidelines. A standard unit of a drink, be it beer, wine or spirits, will always contain ten grams of ethanol (5)(5).

However, it can be tricky to measure your actual consumption in units. For example, if someone fills your glass before you finish it, it can be difficult to keep track of your consumption. Also, your glass size might not exactly match the volume of a standard unit of your drink. As a rule of thumb, it is always best to drink responsibly, in moderation, and to avoid activities and situations in which alcohol consumption may pose a risk.

There are tools that can help you convert your consumption to standard units."

References
  1. Harvard Health Publishing. Alcohol's effects on the body. 2014; Available from:
  2. Thomasson, H.R., Gender differences in alcohol metabolism. Physiological responses to ethanol. Recent Dev Alcohol, 1995. 12: p. 163-79.
  3. Cederbaum, A.I., Alcohol metabolism. Clin Liver Dis, 2012. 16(4): p. 667-85.
  4. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Women and alcohol. 2019; Available from:
  5. U.K. National Health Service (NHS). Alcohol units. 2018; Available from: