Drunkenness all in your head

From the BBC:

A person's memory is impaired if they believe they are drinking alcohol even when it is really water, a study has found.

Researchers at Victoria University in New Zealand tricked 148 students into believing they were drinking vodka to study the so-called placebo effect.

The undergraduates were given drinks in a room set up like a pub with bartenders, vodka bottles and glasses.

Half were told they were drinking vodka and half tonic water. In reality, they were all given plain water with limes.

Afterwards, the students were shown slides of a crime and were asked to assess a story spiked with misleading information.

The researchers found those who thought they were drinking vodka had poorer memory powers than those who knew they were sober. They were also more suggestible and less reliable as eye witnesses.

I wonder if it works the other way around?

This story also reminded me of a party during my college days. My friend John and I mixed our drinks, finishing off the contents of a vodka bottle. We then thoughtfully refilled the bottle from a drinking fountain before putting it back on the drinks table. Soon enough some underclassman comes along and mixes himself a stiff one. After tasting it he makes a face; then he pours in a little more "vodka", tastes it again, smiles happily, and wanders off.

Posted by David on January 7, 2003 11:06 AM