How many ounces of spirits or liquors constitutes a standard drink at 40% alc./vol.?

A standard drink in the context of spirits or liquors is defined based on the amount of pure alcohol it contains. For a beverage that is 40% alcohol by volume (alc./vol.), 1.5 ounces is the quantity that qualifies as a standard drink. This measurement aligns with common guidelines that state a standard drink typically contains about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.

To break this down further, if you have 1.5 ounces of a spirit at 40% alc./vol., you can calculate the amount of pure alcohol by multiplying the volume by the alcohol content:

1.5 oz × 0.40 (40%) = 0.6 oz of pure alcohol.

This matches the definition of a standard drink. Understanding this measurement is important for responsible drinking practices and knowing how much alcohol one is consuming, especially in social settings.