You Are What You Drink (sort of)

Research argues that it is not entirely true that alcohol sheds inhibitions. High alcohol consumption does impair physical and mental abilities. But alcohol doesn't cause selective recklessness. Instead, it argues that cultural norms affect alcohol's effect on us. In other words, "when people think they are drinking alcohol, they behave according to their cultural beliefs about the behavioral effects of alcohol."

Some societies associate drinking with recklessness (US, UK). But others (Latin, Mediterranean) is morally neutral - like coffee. But the 2nd group has "significantly higher per-capita alcohol consumption" than the 1st group! In experiments, group 1 drinkers were given non-alcoholic "placebos" ... but still shed their inhibitions. So you can get "drunk" of non-alcoholic beer if you think that's what beer is supposed to do. And since alcohol "causes" bad behavior, you're not responsible. Experiments, however, show even when very drunk, if people are given an incentive (financial reward or social approval) they can control themselves.

Injured? Best be Drunk!

Being drunk makes you more accident prone, but trauma patients are more likely to survive if they were drunk at the time of their injury. Studies found that 7% who came in sober died of their injuries vs. 1% of drunk victims. Drunk victims were discharged sooner as well. Scientists cannot explain why this occurs, but they - and the sane - recommend not getting drunk in the first place to avoid the ensuring injury.

Loud Bar = More Beer

Research found that when bar music was louder, alcohol consumption rose.

Researchers think 1) loud music may energize and excite bar-hoppers, encouraging binging; or 2) it was too loud to talk, so people focused more on drinking.

Alcoholic Animals

In the Malaysian rain forest, scientists noticed a yeasty smell from a local palm and a frothy substance resembling the head of beer. The palm’s nectar has as much alcohol as some beer.

The pen tailed treeshrew and slow loris were found to repeatedly drink the nectar every night - equivalent of ~9 drinks, but they don't act "drunk." Also, they act as the plant’s pollinator.

Color Dictates Hangover Severity

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research finds that lighter colored spirits (e.g. vodka) may cause lesser hangovers than darker drinks (e.g. bourbon). Many drinks contain byproducts of fermentation called congeners which in large doses can have toxic effects ... darker distilled drinks and wines generally have more congeners vs. lighter ones (e.g. bourbon has 37 times more than vodka).