Yes, they make up the difference in volume. Alcohol is alcohol.
A couple shots of something like Everclear equals a whole lot more wine or even more beer. One type isn't any "better" for an alcoholic than another--they all have exactly the same effect, only there is a tendency to consume more of the less-potent types.
Most of us alcoholics have tried switching to "weaker" kinds of drinks, or diluting them with ice, mixer, or water, and the bottom line is we still get drunk, still damage our bodies, and still feed our addiction.