CBS Local – Blaming last night’s actions or decisions on excessive alcohol consumption is commonplace and a moderately forgivable offense. However, there isn’t much science to back up this conventional wisdom. Booze doesn’t alter your personality, it simply exaggerates it, according to a study published in Clinical Psychological Science.
In the study, 156 participants were studied. Some were given non-alcoholic drinks and others were given drinks designed to bring the blood alcohol content to .09, which would be over the legal limit to drive. The participants, as well as observers watching a video feed, reported their observations.
The drinkers reported a lower rate of agreeability and openness to experience but higher levels of extroversion. But, the observers observed only a difference in extroversion.