What does proof actually mean in the sense of alcohol content?!


Question: What does proof actually mean in the sense of alcohol content!?
Some people have told me you get drinks that are like 120% & 140%!. That just doesn't make any sense, how can the content of alcohol be higher than the content of the whole drink!?

Why isn't it 100% proof at most!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Proof is the percentage of alcohol times 2!.

So if you have a drink that is 80 proof, then it's 40% alcohol!.
Or if it's 70% alcohol, then its 140 proof!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

The term originated in the 18th century, when payments to British sailors included rations of rum!. To ensure that it had not been watered down, the rum was “proved” by dousing gunpowder in it, then testing to see if it would ignite!. If the gunpowder did not burn, the rum contained too much water—and was considered to be “underproof!.”

A “proven” sample of rum was defined to be 100 degrees proof!. This was later found to occur at 57!.15% ethanol!. This percentage is very close to a 4:7 ratio of alcohol to total amount of liquid!. Seventy degrees proof is then equivalent to 40% ABV
[(4÷7) × !.7 = 0!.4]!. And pure, 100% alcohol is 175 degrees proof [(4÷7) × 1!.75 = 1!.0]!.

This definition is no longer used in the United Kingdom; the ABV system must be used to state the alcohol content on bottles!.

[edit]Www@FoodAQ@Com

Nicole,

If you're in Scotland then 'proof' to indicate alcohol hasn't been used for many years!. And when proof was used, it wasn't a percentage and didn't use a percentage sign, but it was degrees proof indicated by a small superscript circle (like used for temperatures)!.

The much more sensible system of alcohol by percentage of volume is used now, indicated by a figure such as 40% abv you'll see on a Scotch bottle!.

Conversion from proof to abv was always complicated!. A 70 degree proof Scotch equals 40% abv (The US used a slightly different measurement of proof, so a Scotch labelled as 70 proof in the UK was labelled as 80 proof for export to the USA,)Www@FoodAQ@Com

An 80 proof liquor is 40% alcohol!. Double the percentage and you have the proof!. (Those liquors you're mentioning are 120 and 140 proof, not %)!.

Anything over 50% is extremely volatile ("fumey"--my own word)!. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is generally 70% alcohol (not fit for drinking of course) but you notice how you can smell it when you take the lid off the bottle and if you leave it off it will all evaporate!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

in the u!.s!. proof is half the actual alcohol by volume!. so 40% alcohol by volume southern comfort is really 80 proof and 100% alcohol by volume everclear is really 199 proof!. any alcohol by volume, double it and you get your proof!. and yes they are 2 very different things!. 1 oz!.(30mL)hard liquior =10oz!. wine =12oz!. beer, and per hour any one of those = !.08 or plus blood alcohol level(which means you get a dui in the states)Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think, you may find the following interesting:

http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Proof_%28al!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

From what I have seen the proof is double the percentage of alcohol!.

For example most vodkas are 90 proof (45% alcohol)!.

So the proof can be above 100, but percents can't!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

100 proof means 50% alcohol by volume!. 140 proof would be 70% alcohol!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Just the amount of ethanol in an alcoholic drink!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I guess this is an American thing!? we don't have proof in the U!.K!. only %

http://answers!.yahoo!.com/question/index!?!.!.!.

Erm!.!.!.!.I thought you were from the U!.K!. Nicole!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

if a drink is 120 proof, it means that it is 60% alcohol!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

so yeah, everyone else is right !.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

i have no idea but beware if it is over a 100 you'll be too hurt in the morning ! LOL:PWww@FoodAQ@Com





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