Beer Goggle Effect Fools More Women than Men, Says Research

Scientists have found that "beer goggles", the nickname for alcohol-induced attractiveness, is more likely to fool women than men.

Researchers at London's Roehampton University conducted a small test on more than 100men and women, split into two groups. One group was asked to take the test while drinking vodka and tonic while the other consumed non-alcoholic drinks.

Individuals were then presented with 20 facial images on a computer screen. The images were manipulated so that one was symmetrical and the other asymmetrical.

The participants were asked to identify the faces and state whether each one was symmetrical or non-symmetrical. Their alcohol consumption, psychological and health information were measured.

The research found that more women than men who were in the alcohol sub-group were prone to beer goggles when they could not judge the symmetricality of a face.

"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.

The more a face is symmetrical, the more attractive it is believed to be to potential sexual partners, previous studies have confirmed.

"A lot of people say they met their partner when they were drunk," he added.

Woemn were less likely to be able to distinguish between attractive and less attractive after drinking a few alcoholic beverages, the journal Addiction reported.

The result indicates even a little consumption of alcohol reduces the ability to assess facial symmetry.

Earlier research conducted by Bristol University found that people appear more attractive towards both sexes even after just half a beer.

But some studies contradicted the latest results. Leicester University researchers said: "There was no difference - the men were just as undiscerning as ever."