“Please enjoy responsibly,” is something you’ll see printed on the packaging or labeling of many alcoholic beverages or at the bottom of the screen of a commercial. But what does that really mean? Is it irresponsible to drink at all? Is it responsible to drink in moderation? Is there a different level of responsibility with beer than hard liquors? It’s perfectly normal to ask these questions regardless of whether you’re a drinker or not. If you’re wondering if alcohol is alcohol or if alcohol is math and chemistry and biology individualized, you are in the right place. Let’s explore the differences between hard liquor and regular old beer and wine.

Liquor

Hard liquor or spirits are alcoholic beverages that are produced by the distillation of grains, fruits, or vegetables. Liquors tend to have higher alcohol by volume and are usually carbohydrate-free. Due to higher alcohol contents, the effects of liquor will be felt sooner than if you were drinking beer or wine. Drinking liquor puts your body systems through the same processes as beer. If you think you have a problem with liquor or beer, there are plenty of reputable drug and alcohol rehab programs that can help get you back on track.

Beer

Beer is an alcoholic beverage that is made by fermenting grains, usually hops. It’s a favorite for many people and it has a fairly low alcohol content compared to liquor. But depending on the brand, you may find that your beer is stronger than average. Although beer is said to be beneficial to your health, when ingested in large amounts regularly, it does more harm to the body than good. Many people think that because beer has less ABV that they can drink as much as they want without keeping track of just how much they’ve been drinking. But this is dangerous and can lead to some pretty severe consequences.

Science

Getting drunk is a matter of numbers and science. It takes one regular beer to equate to one standard shot of hard liquor, generally. You have to keep in mind that different liquors and brands offer different alcohol by volume amounts. For instance, a shot of the strongest vodka at 96% ABV is the equivalent to a little less than 2.5 regular beers. And the way your body handles the alcohol is going to vary according to your height, weight, and overall health. If you drink regularly, your body may have a higher alcohol tolerance. This means that your body needs more alcohol to feel the effects. Whichever alcoholic beverage you consume, there is always the possibility of danger.

If you’ve ever wondered about diff When it comes down to it, they are both capable of doing the same damage. They’ll both get you drunk, they can both result in alcohol poisoning. And both are capable of earning you a DUI/DWI. Due to the concentration of alcohol in hard liquors, these will inebriate you more quickly than beer, but both options have the potential to be equally dangerous when abused. Moderation is key.