Being Drunk Is No Excuse

You may want to think twice next time you blame alcohol for your bad behavior, because according to new research, that excuse doesn’t fly anymore.  It seems excessive drinking doesn’t actually impair our ability to control ourselves, it just makes us care a lot less about the stupid things we do.

Researchers out of the University of Missouri looked at 67 people who were asked to complete an error recognition test on a computer. The subjects were split into three groups and were either given soft drinks, a placebo, or vodka and tonics.

What researchers discovered was all three groups were aware when they made a mistake, which means the drinkers were able to hold themselves accountable for their errors. But, when making a mistake, the sober subjects usually took their time and were more careful not to make an error again, but with the drinkers, they didn’t seem to care at all, and answered the next question just as quickly as the last. So basically they were drunk and stupid.

Furthermore, the study revealed the following:

Drinking just two glasses of wine a day can damage your health.

The research challenged previous claims that moderate amounts of alcohol could have a protective effect on the heart.

Even if you drink as little as 12 units a week – less than a pint of beer or two small glasses of wine a day – this will still have a negative effect on health said scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Earlier this month, the Government warned people to have a 'one day on, one day off' policy when drinking, to avoid damaging their health.