A standard cup of wine is 5 ounces. That’s about one standard drink. For the average person—think a 155-pound human who ate a sandwich—one drink per hour is safe for driving, but two might start that warm, fuzzy feeling.
Most people begin feeling tipsy after two to three glasses within an hour. That’s when the giggles arrive and your stories get way more interesting. By glass number four or five, you’re in “drunken philosopher” territory—profound thoughts about cheese and gravity.
But Wait—Are You a “Lightweight” or a “Tank”?
If you’re a 120-pound person who skipped lunch, you might catch a buzz after one and a half glasses. Your genes also play a role. Some people have an enzyme party foul that makes alcohol hit them like a freight train.
Men generally have more of that alcohol-munching enzyme, so they often need three to four glasses to feel drunk. Women? Usually two to three. But don’t @ me—biology is a goofy tyrant.
Oh, and red wine vs. white wine? Red often has slightly higher alcohol (13-15% vs. 11-13%). So three glasses of bold Zinfandel hit harder than three glasses of crisp Pinot Grigio. Science!
