Which statement accurately describes standard drink definitions used in RBS?

• A. A standard drink is always 1.0 ounce of ethanol.
• B. A standard drink is defined by the total number of drinks, regardless of ABV.
• C. A standard drink includes 12 oz beer (about 5% ABV), 5 oz wine (about 12% ABV), or 1.5 oz of 80-proof distilled spirits (about 40% ABV)
• D. A standard drink is always 2.0 ounces of alcohol.

Answer: (C)

A standard drink is a fixed amount of pure alcohol that helps you gauge how much someone has consumed, regardless of the beverage type. In U.S. practice, one standard drink roughly equals 14 grams (about 0.6 ounces) of ethanol. The volumes listed—12-ounce beer at about 5% ABV, 5-ounce wine at about 12% ABV, or 1.5-ounce of 80-proof distilled spirits at about 40% ABV—all contain roughly the same amount of ethanol. That’s why this option shows the correct equivalents: each beverage size and ABV combination delivers approximately the same amount of alcohol.

The other statements miss the key point. A fixed 1.0 ounce of ethanol would exceed a standard drink amount; ABV matters, so defining a standard drink by number of drinks alone ignores how strong the beverages are; and saying a standard drink is always 2.0 ounces of alcohol contradicts the standard measure used in RBS.

Understanding this helps servers estimate intoxication risk, pace service, and explain amounts clearly to customers.