How is the quantity of alcohol indicated in the different types of alcoholic beverages?
In distilled spirits, the alcohol content is indicated in Proof, which is equal to twice the actual percentage of alcohol. For example, a distilled spirit which is shown to be 60 proof contains 30% alcohol. The alcoholic content of wine is indicated in percentage by volume. This gives the actual percentage of the beverage that is alcohol. For beer and other malt alcoholic beverages, although the percentage of alcohol is not shown on the label, the alcohol content is usually given in percentage of alcohol by weight. This percentage number will usually appear to be slightly less than if the alcohol content were shown by volume.
