Alcohol and drugs
In the handbook's BAC table, one drink means 12 ounces of 5% beer. How much 12% wine counts as one drink?
- 5 ounces. Correct answer
- 12 ounces.
- 1.5 ounces.
Why
The table treats three servings as equal: 12 ounces of 5% beer, 5 ounces of 12% wine and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. By that measure, 12 ounces of wine is more than two drinks, and 1.5 ounces is the serving for hard liquor. The table estimates BAC from the number of drinks, body weight and gender, says fewer than 5 people in 100 will go over its figures, and tells you to subtract 0.01% for every 40 minutes between drinks. None of that turns it into permission: even one drink can affect your driving.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is 5 ounces.
The rule behind this one
California alcohol and drug rules for drivers goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on alcohol and drugs
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