ALCOHOL HELPS YOU REMEMBER THINGS MORE CLEARLY

(March, 2017) A new study from Glasgow Caledonian University, published in Psychopharmacology, claims that if alcohol is consumed after witnessing a crime it can protect memory from misleading information. The 83 participants in the study watched a video of a staged theft, where a man and a woman entered a house and stole some jewelry, money and a laptop. The robbers then swiftly left the property, before the homeowner could stop them. After watching the film, participants were split into three groups.
– Members of the first group were given alcohol and were aware that they had been given it.
– The second group were told they would be drinking non-alcoholic beer, but in fact did drink alcohol.
– And the third group did not get any alcohol and knew they were not drinking.
All participants were then exposed to some fake information about the crime video. The following day, all participants returned to the lab when sober and their memory about the crime was tested. The study found that those who did not drink alcohol were more likely to remember false information compared with those who had. They believe this is because alcohol blocks new incoming information, including misinformation, so it is less likely to have a negative impact on what was witnessed.
* Obviously, further drinking – er, research, is needed.
* “Yes, officer, I keep this bottle of booze next to me in the car in case I witness a crime. Just doing my civic duty.”
* How much do I have to drink to remember where I was Saturday night?
* The people who were told they were drinking non-alcoholic beer – did they all get home okay?
* Meanwhile, Glasgow Caledonian University would like to hear from anybody with information about the missing jewelry, money and laptop.
* So if you’re drinking to forget, the liquor is going to make you remember everything better up until the time you started drinking.
* A study about alcohol from Scotland. The ball’s in your court, Ireland!