CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Issues
2. Understanding Alcohol Abuse
3. Understanding Violence Against Women
4. Alcohol and Domestic Violence
5. Alcohol, Sexual Assault, and Rape
6. Prevention and Early Intervention
7. Screening and Assessment
8. Diagnosis and Treatment
9. Legal and Ethical Issues

Supplements
Fact Sheets
Videos
Resources

Silence Hurts
Alcohol Abuse and Violence Against Women

Module Content Objectives Introduction What Is a Drink? Alcoholism and Alcohol Problems -- Alcohol Abuse vs. Alcohol Dependence -- DSM-IV Criteria for Dependence -- Addiction and Craving Theories of Addiction Signs of Alcohol Abuse Risk Factors for Alcohol Abuse Roles in Families Where Alcohol is a Problem -- Defense Mechanisms The Effects of Alcohol and Violence on Teens and Young Adults Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA)-Teenagers and Older Myths and Facts About Alcohol Abuse Summary of Module References Module 2 Quiz

What Is a Drink?

A standard drink is:

^*Beer ranges considerably in its alcohol content, with malt liquor being higher in alcohol content than most other brewed beverages.

^** Wine is typically 6 to 14 percent alcohol. If a wine exceeds 14 percent alcohol, the alcohol content must be displayed on the label. Wines designated as table wines (7 to 14 percent alcohol) are not required to display alcohol content on their labels. Aperitif and dessert wines, which have been fortified to make them stronger, contain 14 to 20 percent alcohol.

^***Hard liquor also varies in alcohol content. The addition of mixers (such as water, soda, and juice) does not lower the alcohol content. It dilutes the drink, which can help lower the concentration of alcohol in the body. However, the amount of alcohol in the drink is the same.

Alcohol Content

Proof is a measure of the strength of an alcoholic beverage. In the United States, proof represents the amount of absolute alcohol in distilled spirits. Proof is calculated as the number of parts of alcohol in 200 parts of beverage at 60 degrees.

Under the American system, one "proof" is equal to one-half percent of alcohol by volume. Thus, a standard drink of 80-proof spirits is 40 percent alcohol by volume.

The dose of alcohol contained in a serving of alcoholic beverage is calculated by multiplying the volume of an alcoholic beverage by the percentage of alcohol. For example, 12 ounces of beer that is 4 percent alcohol would have a dose of 0.48 ounces of alcohol.

All standard drinks have about the same dose of alcohol, equal to about one-half ounce of absolute alcohol. Some typical servings of certain alcoholic beverages contain more or less alcohol than a standard drink.

Examples of Drink Equivalence

Alcoholic Beverage	Amount of Absolute Alcohol	Number of Standard Drinks
40-ounce bottle of 8% malt liquor	3.2 oz.	6.4 drink equivalents
12-ounce bottle of 2.5% low-alcohol beer	0.3 oz.	0.6 drink equivalents
1.25-ounce shot of 151=proof rum	0.94 oz.	1.9 drink equivalents
12.5-ounce bottle of 20% fortified wine cooler	2.5 oz.	5.0 drink equivalents

Drink Sizes

Alcoholic beverages come in a variety of sizes. Common measurements of alcoholic beverages (U.S.) include:

• Pony shot: 0.5 jigger; 0.75 fluid ounce
• Shot: 0.666 jigger; 1 fluid ounce
• Large shot: 1.25 ounces
• Jigger: 1.5 shots; 1.5 fluid ounces
• Pint: 16 shots; 0.625 fifth
• Fifth: 25.6 shots; 25.6 ounces; 1.6 pint; 0.8 quart; 0.76 liter
• Quart: 32 shots; 32 ounces; 1.25 fifths
• Magnum: 2 quarts; 2.5 wine bottles
• Bottle wine: 0.8 quarts; 0.76 liter

More information is available at the Indiana Prevention Resource Center's FACTLINE on Alcohol Doses, Measurements, and Blood Alcohol Levels.