How Many Drinks and Shots Are in a Bottle, Pint or Fifth?
A “fifth” of liquor is a 750 ml bottle, a “pint” of liquor is 375 ml and a “handle” is 1.75 litres; these are among the bottle sizes US law allows for distilled spirits (27 CFR 5.203).
Bottle size converter: shots, ounces and standard drinks
Sources: 27 CFR 5.203: standards of fill for distilled spirits; NIAAA: What is a standard drink?; NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C (1 US fl oz = 29.573 53 mL) (read 3 Nov 2026).
How many standard drinks are in common containers?
| Drink | Approximate number of US standard drinks |
|---|---|
| Regular beer (5%) | 12 fl oz = 1; 16 fl oz = 1⅓; 22 fl oz = 2; 40 fl oz = 3⅓ |
| Malt liquor (7%) | 12 fl oz = 1½; 16 fl oz = 2; 22 fl oz = 2½; 40 fl oz = 4½ |
| Table wine (12%) | 750 ml (a regular wine bottle) = 5 |
| 80-proof spirits (40%) | a shot (1.5 oz glass or 50 ml bottle) = 1; a mixed drink or cocktail = 1 or more; 200 ml (a "half pint") = 4½; 375 ml (a "pint" or "half bottle") = 8½; 750 ml (a "fifth") = 17 |
Sources: NIAAA Rethinking Drinking: how many drinks are in common containers (read 3 Nov 2026).
Quick answers
- Shots in a fifth (750 ml): about 17 shots of 1.5 fl oz.
- Shots in a pint of liquor (375 ml): about 8½ shots of 1.5 fl oz.
- Shots in a handle (1.75 L): about 39 shots of 1.5 fl oz.
- Standard drinks in a 40 oz beer (5%): about 3⅓ (NIAAA).
- Standard drinks in a 750 ml bottle of wine (12%): about 5 (NIAAA).
Shots are counted as 1.5 US fl oz (44 ml), the size of one standard drink of 80-proof spirits in the NIAAA definition.
General information only, not medical or legal advice. If you are worried about your drinking, talk to a doctor or see our support pages. Never drink and drive.