Most Australian adults will have at least an occasional drink and about half of us are regular drinkers. But it’s easy to underestimate the health impacts, and experts believe there is too much risky drinking. What is alcohol? The alcohol in drinks is called ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol). It is made from sugars in grains, fruits and vegetables. It can be produced in various strengths: 5 per cent (full-strength beer and cider) 12-14 per cent (wine) 18 per cent (fortified wines like port or sherry) 37-40 per cent (spirits like vodka, whisky and gin) In recent years, the strength of both white and red wines has increased. What is a standard drink? A standard drink is one that contains 10 grams of alcohol. The size will vary, depending on what you’re drinking. How many drinks in a bottle? 1 stubby (375ml) of mid-strength (3.5%) beer is 1 […]