"Proof" on liquor

[Shinna_Minna_Ma]

Where and why did putting “proof” on bottles of liquor develop? Why couldn’t the manufacturers simply write the percentage of alcohol?

[markn_1]

Mainly because there was no way to measure alcohol percentage when the proof system was created.
Wikipedia says:

The term proof dates back to 16th century England, when spirits were taxed at different rates depending on their alcohol content. Spirits were tested by soaking a pellet of gunpowder in them. If the gunpowder could still burn, the spirits were rated above proof and taxed at a higher rate. Gunpowder would not burn in rum that contained less than 57.15% ABV. Therefore, rum that contained this percentage of alcohol was defined to have 100 degrees proof. The gunpowder test was officially replaced by a specific-gravity test in 1816.

From the 18th century until 1 January 1980, the UK measured alcohol content by proof spirit, defined as spirit with a gravity of  12⁄13 that of water, or 923 kg/m3, and equivalent to 57.15% ABV.

The value 57.15% is very close to the fraction  4⁄7 = 0.5714. Thus, the definition amounts to declaring that 100° proof spirit has an ABV of  4⁄7. From this, it follows that to convert the ABV (expressed as a percentage standard rather than as a fraction) to degrees proof, it is only necessary to multiply by  7⁄4 = 1.75. Thus pure, 100% alcohol will have 100×( 7⁄4) = 175° proof, and a spirit containing 40% ABV will have 40×( 7⁄4) = 70° proof.

The proof system in the United States was established around 1848 and was based on percent alcohol rather than specific gravity. 50% alcohol was defined as 100 proof.

The use of proof as a measure of alcohol content is now mostly historical. Today, liquor is sold in most locations with labels that state its alcohol content as its percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV).

[Amateur_Barbarian]

I also note that, for craft bourbons at least, it’s become common to put the alcohol percentage on the label. Knob Creek is 100 proof; type just as large proclaims it 50% alcohol.

[watchwolf49]

So the price of a fifth of a US gallon of 100 proof American booze was only slightly lower than the price of a fifth of an Imperial gallon of 100 proof English booze … it would look like American booze was the better deal … even though it’s less volume of weaker shit … what a deal !!!

[LSLGuy]

@watchwolf49

… it would look like American booze was the better deal … even though it’s less volume of weaker shit … what a deal !!!

American commerce at its finest. Or is that at its Greatest?

[watchwolf49]

The Short Ton … capitalism at it’s finest …

[Amateur_Barbarian]

Taxation on liquor is based on the alcohol content, so the lower the proof, the lower the federal tax. I believe it’s $25 a proof gallon, although it escapes me as to whether that’s a gallon of ethanol or a gallon of 50% alcohol.

[bob_2]

Be warned. If you drink beer in a British pub, the pump label should tell you the ABV. Most beers are around the 3% to 4% mark, but 5% or more is not uncommon.

The popularity of micro breweries means even more high strength beers are available, so be careful.