Vivian Marlowe
Alcohol bottles come in a variety of sizes, and the terminology used to describe them can be confusing. A 375ml bottle of alcohol is referred to as a pint in the United States and India, a Mickey in Canada, and a half-pint in the UK. This size is popular for spirits such as whiskey, vodka, and gin, and it contains approximately eight standard shots. In the late 19th century, the legal threshold for individual commercial alcohol sales was one-fifth of a gallon (750 ml), so this size bottle is also commonly referred to as a fifth or commercial quart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pint, American metric pint, Mickey, Shorty, Half |
| Volume | 375 ml |
| Number of Shots | 8 standard shots |
| Other Common Bottle Sizes | Miniature (50 ml), Half pint (200 ml), Fifth (750 ml), Liter (1,000 ml), Handle (1.75 L) |
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What You'll Learn
A 'pint' in the US, a Mickey in Canada, and a pint in India
In the US, a pint is a unit of volume or capacity in the customary measurement system, where it is defined as one-eighth of a gallon, or 473 millilitres. In the US, there are two kinds of pints: a liquid pint and a less common dry pint. The liquid pint is approximately 473 millilitres, while the dry pint is approximately 551 millilitres.
In Canada, a "Mickey" refers to a 375-millilitre bottle of hard alcohol, such as rum, vodka, or Canadian rye whiskey. The term is believed to have originated in the Maritime provinces of Atlantic Canada and parts of Ontario. Interestingly, a Texas Mickey is a Canadian term for an oversized 3-litre bottle of alcohol commonly found at university parties.
In India, the British imperial pint, which was the standard measure in Britain's former colonies, is used. This is approximately 568 millilitres, which is 20.095% larger than the US pint. The imperial pint is also used in other Commonwealth countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
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A fifth in the US
In the US, a "fifth" is a unit of volume that was formerly used for wine and distilled beverages. It is equal to one-fifth of a US liquid gallon, or 25+3⁄5 US fluid ounces (approximately 750 ml or 25.4 ounces). This is the standard capacity of wine bottles worldwide.
The term "fifth" originated from the bottles used for wine and distilled liquors in the US in the 19th century. These bottles appeared to hold one US quart (32 US fl oz; 950 mL) but actually contained less and were known as "short quarts" or "commercial quarts". At this time, one-fifth of a gallon was the legal threshold for the difference between selling alcohol by the drink and selling by the bottle. Thus, the "fifth" became the usual size of bottle for distilled beverages in the US until 1980.
Today, the "fifth" has been superseded by the metric bottle size of 750 ml, sometimes called a "metric fifth". This is the standard size for most spirits, including vodka, gin, and whiskey.
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A half in the UK
In the UK, a standard drink is defined as a notional drink that contains a specified amount of pure alcohol, typically expressed as a measure of beer, wine, or spirits. The UK's system of alcohol units serves as a guideline for alcohol consumption, with a single unit defined as 10 ml. This system is intended to help people regulate their alcohol intake.
Liquor bottles come in various sizes, including standard and unique options, to cater to different needs and preferences. While there doesn't seem to be a specific name for 375ml bottles of alcohol in the UK, this size is commonly referred to as a “pint” in the US, a “Mickey” in Canada, and a “pint” in India.
In the UK, spirits are typically sold in metric measurements, with bottles ranging from 250 ml, 500 ml, 700 ml, to 1 litre and beyond. A UK pint is defined as 568 ml, which is larger than the 375 ml volume. Therefore, a 375 ml bottle in the UK would likely be referred to as a “small bottle” or simply by its volume measurement.
It's worth noting that the terminology around bottle sizes can be confusing and vary across different regions. For example, a "handle" of alcohol refers to a large 1.75-liter bottle with a built-in handle, and a "fifth" refers to a 750 ml bottle, which is a standard size for spirits.
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A quarter bottle
A 375ml bottle of alcohol is referred to as a pint in the United States, where it is a common term. In the UK, a pint refers to a pint glass of beer, and a 375ml bottle of spirits is not typically called a pint as it is smaller than the standard UK pint of 568ml. Instead, in the UK, a 375ml bottle is sometimes called a half because it is half the size of a normal spirit bottle, which is 70cl.
In India, a 375ml bottle of alcohol is also called a pint, while in Canada, it is known as a Mickey. In the US, a 375ml bottle is also referred to as a fifth of a US gallon, and these bottles are commonly used for spirits like vodka, gin, and whiskey.
To clarify, a quarter bottle typically refers to a 200ml bottle, which is half the size of a 375ml "pint" bottle. A quarter bottle contains approximately four 1.5-ounce shots.
It is worth noting that the terminology around alcohol bottle sizes can be confusing, and there are many different sizes and names used across the world.
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A shorty in the UK
In the UK, a standard pint of beer is 568ml, so a 375ml bottle of liquor would not be referred to as a pint. Instead, this size of bottle is commonly known as a "shorty" in the UK, which is one of the three standard measurements for bottles of spirits, along with the pint and the fifth. A shorty contains 100ml, a fifth contains 750ml, and a pint contains 375ml.
The term "shorty" is also used in other countries to refer to small bottles of alcohol. For example, in Chile, a "corto" ("short") is used to describe bottles smaller than 250ml. In Ireland, a "naggin" refers to a 200ml bottle, a "shoulder" to a 350ml bottle, and a "neck" to a 750ml bottle.
It is worth noting that the term "pint" can be confusing when it comes to alcohol bottles, as it can refer to different volumes depending on the country. In the US, a pint is 473ml, while in the UK, it is 568ml. Therefore, it is always good to be specific about the volume when referring to alcohol bottles.
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Frequently asked questions
In the US, a 375ml bottle of alcohol is called a pint.
In Canada, a 375ml bottle of alcohol is called a Mickey.
In India, a 375ml bottle of alcohol is simply called a pint.
In the UK, a pint refers to a pint glass of beer. A 375ml bottle of alcohol is not referred to as a pint.
