Here are the number of drinks contained in some popular containers: Beer - There is one standard drink in a regular 12-ounce beer, but there are 1 1/2 standard drinks in a 16-ounce tall boy.. The new popular 40s, which are made up of 40 ounces of beer, contain 3 1/2 standard drinks. Malt Liquor - By definition, malt liquor contains more alcohol than regular beer.