The Science Of Beer Goggles: Women Especially Affected

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  • Academia’s bright minds have been working hard researching one of life’s stranger experiences: “beer goggles.” A team of researchers found that alcohol inhibits our ability, especially women, to detect facial asymmetry. While facial features such cheek bones and skin are the most salient characteristics of attraction, slight variations between the left and right side of the human face are known to affect how attractive we find others (indeed, some of the world’s most famous people, such as Brad Pitt, have high facial symmetry).

    The experimental study looked at how participants divided into 3 groups were able to judge symmetry: one with a vodka and tonic, one with a placebo, similar tasting non-alcoholic beverage, and orange squash. “People that had drink tended to be less good at noticing if a face was asymmetrical, they often saw it as being symmetrical when it was asymmetrical,” said researcher Lewis Halsey. Women were particularly affected by alcohol.

    As with many things in academia, The Daily Mail notes that there is contradictory evidence, suggesting that alcohol does not make people more attractive. What do you think, do beer goggles exist?

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