There doesn't seem to be that much of a difference between a standard 4% beer and a 5% one...
After all, it is only a 1% difference in the two, but that 1%doeshave a significant impact on your body.
Our bodies can process a certain amount of alcohol each hour continuously and this process doesn't stop, but it doesn't speed up either according to Draftmag.
But, to break it down in simpler terms, there are about 1.4 units of alcoholin a 350ml glass of 4% beer, so if you're drinking one beer per hour, your body is processing 1 unit of alcoholand leaving .4 units leftover to give you that slightly tipsy feeling.
If you were to have another of the same beer the next hour, the exact same process happens and you're left with .8 units of alcohol in your body, and 1.2 units if you have another glass of beer in hour three.
Now, it's highly likely that you'll be having more than one beer perhour but for arguments sake, let's stick with that measurement.
There are about 1.8 units of alcohol in a 350ml glass of 5% beer. Therefore if you're drinking one an hour you'll be left with an alcohol surplus of .8 units after your first beer, 1.6 after your second and 2.4 after your third.
Basically over three glasses in three hours, you will have double the amount of alcohol in your systemfrom the 5% beer (2.4 units of alcohol) than you would have from your 4% beer (1.2 units of alcohol).
FAQs
Meanwhile, the same sized bottle of five per cent beer contains 1.8 units. This leaves 0.8 after the first hour, 1.6 after the second and 2.4 after the third - double the excess amount accumulated after drinking the four per cent beer.
Is there a big difference between 4% and 5% beer? ›
Here's two beers for comparison: A 12-ounce beer with 4% ABV – equals 1.4 alcohol units. A 12-ounce beer with 5% ABV – equals 1.8 alcohol units.
Can 5 percent beer get you drunk? ›
You will get very drunk on 5% alcohol (around what beer is), if you have more than one or two (cans of beer that are 12 oz each). Many beer drinkers who are full on alcoholics only drink beer (like a 12 pack or a case). They are just as alcoholic as their friends who drink other things.
Is 5% strong for beer? ›
The recognised ABV of a strong beer starts at around 6% ABV. This is accepted by many countries, but some (like Norway), consider a strong beer to start from 4.8% ABV!
Is 10% beer twice as strong as 5% beer? ›
The alcohol content is the same: there's 1.2 oz of alcohol in the single 12oz beer with 10% ABV. And there's a combined 1.2 oz of alcohol in two 12oz beers with 5% ABV. But in the second case, those 1.2 oz of alcohol are “spread out” over 24oz of beer. Plus it takes longer to drink 24oz of anything versus 12oz.
How many 4% beers equal a shot? ›
Generally speaking, the National Consumer League reports that one 12-ounce beer is equal to one shot, though this varies depending on the specific ABVs of both the liquor and the beer. However, the alcohol content directly impacts how much of a particular liquor you can safely consume.
How many 5% beers equal a shot? ›
According to science one 12 oz (354 ml) beer with 5% ABV equals one shot of 40% ABV alcohol because they contain the same amount of ethanol.
What beer gets you drunk the fastest? ›
Some beers have an alcohol level of over 12% and will get someone drunk much faster if they drink a bottle of the same size as the Bud. The Snake Venom beer's alcohol content is 67.5%, the highest in the world. The figure is also higher than most liquors. (The 20 craft beers Americans like the most.)
What alcohol gets you drunk the fastest? ›
Hard liquors can get you drunk faster than beer or wine, as they have a higher alcohol content. Doing shots can be particularly useful, as you'll be absorbing high alcohol products very fast. Vodka in particular has been shown to increase the speed of intoxication.
How many beers is too drunk? ›
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
Binge drinking is defined as reaching a BAC of 0.08% (0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood) or higher. A typical adult reaches this BAC after consuming 4 or more drinks (women) or 5 or more drinks (men), in about 2 hours.
Scottish Beithir Fire™ the World's strongest Beer was born out of a relationship between two of Scotland's most famous products, beer and distilled spirits. It starts life as a high ABV Scottish style barley ale with a brewing process that lasts approximately 2 months.
What's the strongest IPA beer? ›
Clocking in at 15-20% ABV and 120 IBUs, 120 Minute is by far the biggest IPA ever brewed! It's easy to see why we call this beer THE HOLY GRAIL for hopheads!
Why is beer getting weaker? ›
Brewers are cutting the alcohol content of their beers as a way to save on tax. Levy is charged on the percentage of alcohol in a beer, so cutting back ABV is an easy way to make savings. Foster's, which is owned by Dutch brewing giant Heineken, was reduced from 4pc to 3.7pc ABV this year.
Is 10 beers in a night too much? ›
The short answer, considering all of the above, is yes. If you are drinking 8 to 10 beers a day, or even more, you are generally putting yourself at risk for a number of serious issues.
How many beers is equal to one shot? ›
Generally speaking, the National Consumer League reports that one 12-ounce beer is equal to one shot, though this varies depending on the specific ABVs of both the liquor and the beer. However, the alcohol content directly impacts how much of a particular liquor you can safely consume.
How many beers equal a shot? ›
That means 12 ounces (354 ml) of 5% beer has 0.6 ounces (17.7 ml) pure ethanol alcohol. On the other hand, the vodka shot of 1.48 ounces (44 ml) contains 0.59 ounces (17.4 ml) alcohol. This math clearly shows that one regular beer equals one shot when you compare alcohol content.
Will 4 beers get you drunk? ›
The number of beers it takes to get drunk can depend on the individual's body weight, tolerance, and other factors. In general, it takes about 3-4 beers for most people to reach a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, which is the legal limit for driving in many countries.
Is 4 percent beer a lot? ›
The ABV on beers ranges greatly, depending on the brewing process. Generally, the ABV is between 4 percent and 8 percent, with 5-6 percent being the standard for most beers in the United States. Some craft beers nowadays are as high as 12 percent.
Is 4% lager strong? ›
This is the average alcohol content of a pale lager and would not be considered a high alcohol content.
Is 5.4 beer strong? ›
Generally, light beers have between 4 and 5% ABV, while regular beers have between 5 and 6% ABV. Craft beers can vary in ABV but usually range from 6–10%. Stronger styles, such as double IPAs and imperial stouts, can reach ABVs as high as 15% or more.
