40oz

40oz, short for a 40-ounce bottle, is a bottle size commonly used for beer and malt liquor in North America. The term refers to a single container that holds 40 US fluid ounces, equal to about 1.183 liters.

Packaging and contents: Most 40 oz beverages are malt liquors or inexpensive beers. They are typically sold in glass bottles, frequently amber in color with crown caps, though plastic variants exist for single-use or on-tap packaging. The alcohol by volume (ABV) for 40 oz products varies by brand but commonly lies in the roughly 5–8.5% range, with malt liquors tending toward the higher end.

History and context: The 40 oz bottle emerged in the United States in the mid-20th century as a convenient large-volume container for budget beer and malt liquor. It became associated with affordable, mass-market products and later gained cultural visibility within urban and hip-hop scenes, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, where it was depicted in music and media as a symbol of certain subcultures. Today, 40 oz beverages are produced by a range of brewers, though the format remains most common for malt liquor.

Notable brands: Olde English 800, Colt 45, St. Ides, Mickey's, King Cobra, and other malt liquors are frequently sold in 40 oz bottles. The actual products vary in flavor, sweetness, and ABV.

Global reach and regulation: The 40 oz format is most closely associated with the United States and is less common in other markets. Local laws and retailer policies may affect sale or display, and some jurisdictions have discussed restrictions on 40 oz packaging or advertising.