Does beer have as much alcohol as hard liquor?

Not by volume, but one beer is the same as one drink for determining your sobriety. One drink's worth of beer is 12 ounces (one can/bottle), while one drink's worth of liquor is 1.5 ounces (one shot).

And some beers are stronger than others, as much as 4 times.

Beer also has more calories, thats why models drink vodka, it gets you drunk faster and not fat.