Alcohol doesn’t impair our ability to control actions, say US researchers

A new study has found that drinking alcohol doesn’t affect our ability to control our actions, only that it makes us care less.

US researchers presented a series of images to three groups: one sober, one given alcohol and a placebo drink, the Daily Mail reports. 

Participants were asked to state whether a face was black or white, and whether an image was of a gun or pliers.

Those tested were notified with any errors they made and encouraged to self-report any mistakes.

All were aware when they’d made mistakes, with the sober and placebo groups taking more time on the next question to ensure accuracy.

Those who’d been drinking instead continued to answer at the same rate, despite knowing they’d erred previously.

The researchers found that the alcohol didn’t affect the actions or the manner in which the subjects performed.

They were simply less concerned with any potential outcomes, perhaps offering another scientific explanation as to why those who’ve been drinking often act with less inhibition than their sober counterparts.

‘These findings suggest that alcohol might limit awareness of errors at an immediate, automatic level, but that subsequent processes leading to recognition, perhaps associated with the further reflection on the response outcome, are not impaired by alcohol,’ the paper states.

In other words, blaming your mistakes on a night on the drink just got that little bit harder.