The older method was try to light it, if it burned, it was proof of the
alcohol content, but no way to establish at that time the exact content

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"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...
|
| "Peter" wrote in message
| T...
| In article , Keith Willshaw
| says...
|
| "Craig Welch" wrote in message
| news | On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 22:43:45 -0000, "Keith Willshaw"
| wrote:
|
| As poor as it is in quality the Budweiser sold in
| the UK is around 5% proof, assuming its a
| low alcohol drink would be a mistake.
|
| It's 5% alcohol, not 5% proof.
|
|
| True - which makes it around 9% proof
|
| Proof?
|
| The old British method of measuring alcohol content
|
| The London Proof spirit was defined as "a mixture of alcohol
| and water which shall weigh exactly 12/13 part of an
| equal quantity of distilled water at 51° F."
|
| The US had a similar measure but it defined Proof Spirit
| as being 50% alcohol and 50% water
|
| Keith
|
|