The phenomenon where everyone seems hotter after a drink (aka "beer goggles") is quite real, according to a new study — and particularly so for women. Folks everywhere can now rest easy knowing that science has officially proven what people who drink have known for centuries: that alcohol removes inhibitions about sex.
Researchers at Basel University in Switzerland gathered 60 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 50 to test the cognitive and social affects of alcohol. According to The Guardian, once the subjects had downed half a liter of beer, both male and female participants were "more attracted to happy faces and social situations," and women especially found it easier to view sexually explicit images than those who were given non-alcoholic beer. The researchers did not, however, find any correlation between alcohol and increased arousal during their observations.
So why were the female subjects more affected by a little brew? Apparently there isn't one easy answer, says Professor Wim van den Brink. He explained:
The sex differences in the findings can either be explained by differences in blood alcohol concentration between males and females with the same alcohol intake, differences in tolerance due to differences in previous levels of alcohol consumption or by socio-cultural factors.
Although alcohol to a point can be a social lubricant, it's definitely not a sexual lubricant in the literal sense, as drinking is a known cause of vaginal dryness, and is associated with risky sex. So, basically, the old adage remains: everything in moderation, particularly if you want to get really wet, and really be invested in the enthusiastic consent you'll bestow upon your partner of choice.
Images: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Giphy
