Glossary
ABV
Alcohol By Volume — the percentage of pure ethanol in a beverage by liquid volume. The standard global metric for alcoholic strength.
A 6% ABV beer means 6 ml of pure ethanol per 100 ml of liquid. The metric is volumetric, not by mass. Mass-based equivalents (used in some scientific contexts) are roughly 80% of ABV.
Ranges by category: beer 3–10% (most around 5%), wine 10–15%, sake 14–20%, makgeolli 6–9%, soju 16–25%, spirits 30–50% standard (vodka, whisky, gin), cask-strength whisky 55–65%, overproof rum 60–75%. The number is regulatory and printed on every commercial bottle in most countries.
Higher ABV does not mean better. Spirits at 60% ABV are usually diluted before drinking; the stated label number rarely reflects the drinking strength.