Updated November 2026
There is no safe or fixed number of tequila shots that makes a person “drunk,” because body size, sex, food, pace, medications and tolerance all change the result. What we can state precisely is the math: one 1.5 oz shot of 80 proof (40% ABV) tequila is one US standard drink, and NIAAA defines binge drinking as about four drinks for women or five for men in roughly two hours, the pattern that typically brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08%. Treat those numbers as a ceiling to stay well under, not a goal, and never drive after drinking.
This guide explains how a tequila shot converts into standard drinks, why the same number of shots hits two people differently, and how to read a tequila label so you know what is actually in your glass.
How Much Alcohol Is in a Shot of Tequila?
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines a US standard drink as any beverage containing 0.6 fl oz, or 14 grams, of pure alcohol. Its example for spirits is a 1.5 oz shot at 40% ABV. Most mainstream tequilas sold in the US sit right at that strength: Don Julio Blanco is listed at 80 proof by Virginia ABC, Patron Silver at 80 proof by Caskers, and Jose Cuervo Especial Gold at 40% ABV by BJ’s.
Here is how common pours convert at 40% ABV:
- 1 oz pony shot: about 0.67 standard drinks.
- 1.5 oz standard shot: 1 standard drink (1.5 oz x 0.40 = 0.6 oz of alcohol).
- 2 oz “double” or heavy home pour: about 1.33 standard drinks.
- 750 ml bottle: about 25.4 oz, or roughly 17 standard 1.5 oz shots and about 17 standard drinks.
If you want the volume conversions in more detail, see our guides to how many mL is a shot and the number of shots in 750 mL.
What NIAAA Counts as Binge Drinking
NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher. For a typical adult, that happens after about five or more drinks for men, or four or more for women, in about two hours. In tequila terms, that is four or five standard 1.5 oz shots of 80 proof tequila in two hours. NIAAA also describes “high-intensity drinking” as two or more times those thresholds, meaning 8 or more drinks for women and 10 or more for men.
Those definitions describe risk, not a target. A person who stays below them can still be impaired, and NIAAA notes that BAC can continue to rise after someone stops drinking, because alcohol still in the stomach and intestine keeps entering the bloodstream. Shots make this worse: several taken quickly can push BAC up long after the last one goes down.
Why the Same Number of Shots Affects People Differently
NIAAA lists sex, speed of drinking, medications, the amount of food eaten, age and alcohol sensitivity as factors that change how alcohol affects someone. In practice, that means:
- Pace: shots deliver a full standard drink in seconds, so BAC climbs faster than it would with a beer nursed over an hour.
- Food: drinking on an empty stomach speeds absorption.
- Sex and body composition: NIAAA sets a lower binge threshold for women for this reason.
- Medications: many prescription and over the counter drugs interact with alcohol.
- Tolerance: feeling “fine” does not mean BAC is low; it means the warning signs are muted.
Coffee, cold showers and walking do not sober anyone up. NIAAA states that these do not reverse the effects of an alcohol overdose and can make things worse. Only time lowers BAC.
How to Read a Tequila Label Before You Count
The proof on the label decides the math, so check it. Under US rules, 27 CFR § 5.148 defines tequila as an agave spirit that is a distinctive product of Mexico, made in Mexico in compliance with Mexican law, and agave spirits must be bottled at or above 40% ABV (80 proof) for the US market. Mexico’s tequila standard, NOM-006-SCFI-2012, allows tequila between 35% and 55% ABV, so a bottle above 80 proof is legal and will pack more alcohol per shot. A 1.5 oz shot of a 50% ABV tequila, for example, holds 0.75 oz of alcohol, or 1.25 standard drinks.
NOM-006-SCFI-2012 also explains the “100% agave” line. A “100% agave” tequila uses only sugars from blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber, blue variety). Tequila without that phrase may take up to 49% of its fermentable sugars from other sources. That label difference changes flavor, not alcohol content per ounce. For which bottles work best in a highball or margarita, see our guide to the best tequila for mixed drinks and the Tequila Guide.
Shots Compared With Margaritas, Beer and Other Spirits
A tequila cocktail usually holds more than one standard drink. The IBA Margarita calls for 50 ml of tequila plus 20 ml of triple sec, and with an 80 proof orange liqueur such as Cointreau that comes to roughly 1.6 standard drinks per glass. Our pages on margarita alcohol and how many margaritas work through the numbers in detail.
A 12 oz beer at 5% ABV equals one standard drink, the same as one tequila shot; see beers vs a shot and how many beers to get drunk. Shots of other 80 proof spirits follow identical math, as our pages on vodka and rum show. Gelatin shots vary with the recipe; see our jello-shot math.
Practical Ways to Keep Tequila Night Safe
- Pour measured 1.5 oz shots instead of free pouring.
- Space drinks out and alternate with water.
- Eat before and while drinking.
- Decide on a limit in advance that stays well below the binge threshold.
- Arrange a sober driver, rideshare or place to stay before the first drink. Never drive after drinking.
If someone shows confusion, cannot stay awake, vomits while drowsy, has slow or irregular breathing, or has clammy or bluish skin, NIAAA advises calling 911 immediately rather than waiting for every symptom to appear. Stay with the person and keep them on their side. For more on measuring and serving, browse Bar Basics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is one shot of tequila one standard drink?
Yes, if it is a 1.5 oz pour at 40% ABV (80 proof). A larger pour or a higher proof bottle contains more than one standard drink.
How many shots of tequila is binge drinking?
Using NIAAA’s definition, about four standard shots for women or five for men within roughly two hours. That is a risk threshold, not a recommendation.
Does tequila get you drunk faster than other liquor?
Not per ounce at the same proof. An 80 proof tequila shot holds the same alcohol as an 80 proof vodka or whiskey shot. Speed of drinking and food matter far more than the spirit.
How many shots are in a bottle of tequila?
A 750 ml bottle holds about 17 standard 1.5 oz shots, or about 17 standard drinks at 80 proof.
Does “100% agave” tequila have more alcohol?
No. “100% agave” describes the sugar source under NOM-006-SCFI-2012. Alcohol content depends on the proof printed on the label.
Sources
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “What Is A Standard Drink?”
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “Drinking Levels Defined” (binge and high-intensity drinking).
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose.”
- 27 CFR § 5.148, Agave spirits (Cornell Legal Information Institute / eCFR).
- NOM-006-SCFI-2012, Bebidas alcoholicas, Tequila, Especificaciones (Consejo Regulador del Tequila, English translation).
- Virginia ABC product listing, Don Julio Tequila Blanco (80 proof).
- Caskers product listing, Patron Silver Tequila (80 proof).
- BJ’s Wholesale Club product listing, Jose Cuervo Especial Gold (40% ABV).
- International Bartenders Association, Margarita specification.