In cans of soda and beer…why has this become the determined serving of said beverage?
I am not a can authority…
But have you noticed that the standard 12 ounce can fits very neatly into an average person’s hand?
so does a 6oz (or is it 8) can of v8
there are smaller and larger but 12 oz is just the most popular
This is very US-centric. When I have traveled abroad I have found that the cans are smaller (I don’t remember the standard size in Europe, maybe something like 0.3 L which is 10 fl. oz.). I don’t think the average European hand is any smaller 
Yup…typical American over indulgence.
Fatties with their extra 2 oz. and all…hmph
Yeah, I think a Big Gulp in Europe is only 28 oz.
It needed to be 12oz. to fill up the cans and bottles they were making.
When Coca-Cola first introduced their bottles they were the 6 oz. size. In the 50’s (?) Pepsi introduced 12 oz. bottles as a marketing ploy.
Pepsi-Cola hits the spot.
Twelve full ounces that’s a lot.
Twice as much for a nickel too.
Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you.
Before long, virtually all bottlers used the 12 oz. standard. When cans came along this was a natural migration. It wasn’t until later that larger size bottles (16 oz., 20 oz. 1 liter, 2 liter, etc.) came into use.
Well, if it was 11oz, you’d be asking “Why 11oz?”. Why 12? Why not 12?