10 shots of vodka = 6 grams??

Factual Questions
1

From here: http://www.nypost.com/seven/08132009/news/regionalnews/dead_drunk_kins_numbskull_ploy_184347.htm

“The Westchester DA’s autopsy found six grams of undigested alcohol in her stomach – the equivalent of 10 shots of vodka”.

Wait, what? 10 shots is, like, half a bottle or something, that would weigh a pound or two. Isn’t 6 grams like just the weight of a penny or so? Am I offbase or does this totally not add up?

2

hmm… my calculations show
10 shots = 443.5 cm3
Density of 80 proof vodka is .9156 g/cm3

So about 406 G in 10 shots.

Maybe they left off the 400?

3

Thanks, yes.

Also my google found that a penny weighs about 3 grams, so yeah, the article is claiming they found the equiv of 2 pennies’ weight of alcohol?

I went back and googled this incident. EVERY single news article repeats the " 6 grams" thing…

4

I’d like to see their math, unless they’re assuming a regular absorption rate or something.

If the 6 grams is only alcohol, and vodka is 40% alcohol, that would be 15 grams of vodka. Vodka’s density is about .91-.92g/mL, so 15 grams is 16.4mL, or a little more than half an ounce.

5

Check out this NY times article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/nyregion/05crash.html?_r=1&th=&emc=th&pagewanted=all

6 grams of alcohol in her stomach and a blood alcohol level that was the equivalent of 10 shots of liquor.