Please clarify about alc./vol. please read.?

Question

Im sorry if this is a stupid question and i may just be over thinking this. I just turned 21 and this alc./vol. confuses me.

In a 12 oz bottle of redds apple ale it has a alc./vol. of 5%.
In a 9 oz can of redds wicked apple ale it had a alc./vol. of 8%
In a 12 oz can of redds wicked apple ale it still has a alc./vol. of 8%

so i understand that the 12 oz can is stronger than the bottle. But is the 9 oz can stronger than the 12 oz can. Cause the both have the same amount of alcohol. Or is alc./vol. like by sip? So the 9 oz can and the 12 oz can have the same amount of alcohol in each sip just more sips in the big can.

Please answer. Im quite confused. And i asked my dad and he just said shut up and drink it. And that didnt help.

Answer 1

Percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV) means exactly what it says - of any given quantity, that many per cent is pure alcohol (ethanol). So if you take 40%ABV vodka, it has 40% pure alcohol and 60% water. That is the same no matter what volume you're talking about, so an ounce of vodka has 40% (0.4 oz) of alcohol, while a gallon of vodka also has 40% (0.4 gal) of alcohol. In other words, that is a RELATIVE measure of alcohol content. What changes with volume is the ABSOLUTE alcohol content, ie. the actual amount of alcohol - so in an ounce of vodka you would have roughly 11ml of pure alcohol, whereas in a gallon of vodka there is ca. 1,500ml of pure alcohol.

Answer 2

It has nothing to do with the size of the bottle. In any given amount (or each "sip" if you like), the alc./vol. (or ABV) is the ratio of alcohol to water and other ingredients. So with the 12 oz bottle at 5%, you have 0.6 oz of alcohol, and in the 9 oz can at 8%, you have 0.72 oz of alcohol, so there is actually slightly more alcohol in the 9oz can than in the 12 oz bottle.

Answer 3

double the alcohol amount and that is the proof. 8% alcohol means it's 4 proof. A 70 proof bottle of whiskey means it's 40% alcohol per volume. Each single shot (volume) is still 40% alcohol.