People's perceptions differ in regards to forms of alcohol and what they choose to drink

The three forms of alcohol: beer, wine, and spirits are not equal in their measurements and do not effect women and men the same way.  Age and weight are also factors in the amount of alcohol it takes for side effects to begin.

The breakdown for one drink is as follows:
          
          Spirits = 1.5 fluid ounces
          Wine = 5 fluid ounces
          Beer = 12 fluid ounces

Whether or not a person chooses to drink may have to do with the activity they are going to be participating.  Maybe a glass of wine with dinner, a few beers after work, or a night out drinking with friends.  There are different factors that may contribute to which form of alcohol a person chooses. Taste, price, personal preference, availability, or peer choice can lead to consumption of one of the three forms of alcohol.

Regardless of what type of alcohol you prefer, over 80% of people have had a drink in their lifetime. Beer is the highest consumed form of alcohol in the United States, wine wins out in France and Portugal, and spirits are consumed more than the other two in Russia and China for example.  This interactive map is an interesting perspective on each country and how much of each form of alcohol is consumed. http://ghostinthedata.com/alcoholmap/

The latest polls show beer is chosen 41% of the time over wine and spirits in the United States. In the early 1990s, beer was chosen almost 50% of the time, but due to wine's increasing popularity this number has decreased.  Sex and age come into play when determining which alcohol is consumed the most.  Women consume wine almost three times more than men and in adults age 55 and over wine is consumed more often than beer or spirits. It is not a surprise that beer rates at 48% for Americans age 18-34.

People's perceptions on alcohol may also have to do with environment and past experiences relating to alcohol. Were you raised by an alcoholic, do you have a friend with a DUI, did you go away to college or start working right after high school, do your parents drink, are you religious?  These and many more factors can lead to your knowledge and perception on drinking and may shape your views on consumption and choice of alcohol.

References:

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2014). Alcohol facts and statistics. Retrieved from http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics. doi: 301.443.3860

Saad, Lydia. (2014). Beer is americans' adult beverage of choice this year. Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/174074/beer-americans-adult-beverage-choice-year.aspx

World Health Organization. (2014). How much - and which - alcohol is drunk in the world during a week? Retrieved from http://ghostinthedata.com/alcoholmap/.