In the United States, binge drinking is the most common and dangerous pattern of excessive alcohol use. Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time that brings an individual’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 or more. The speed at which we consume alcohol depends on a variety of factors. However, according to new research, a huge contributing factor behind how quickly we finish an alcoholic beverage may be due to the shape of the glass that we’re drinking from.
Straight vs. Curvy Glasses
In one experiment, study participants were given glasses of either a beer or a non-alcoholic soft drink, served from either a straight glass or a flute shaped glass with a curvy taper to a narrow base. Those drinking beer from the curved glass finished their drinks almost twice as fast as those drinking alcohol from the straight glass. However, there was no difference in soft drink consumption rates.
In the second test, the participants were asked to view pictures of the two types of glasses with varying volumes of liquid and asked whether they thought they were more or less than half full. The results showed that there was a greater degree of error when it came to judging levels in the curved glasses. This degree of error was also associated with drinking speed, as the volunteers who had more difficulty gauging the amounts in the glasses also had the greatest changes in drinking rates.
The “Standard Drink”
Research has also found that drinking different types of alcohol (such as malt liquor vs. beer) in curved glasses led to higher consumption speeds as well. This is important to note as many people don’t realize how much alcohol they’re actually consuming in one sitting, therefore causing higher intoxication rates and alcohol-related injuries. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a standard drink is considered 5 fluid ounces of wine, 3 to 4 ounces of port or sherry, 12 fluid ounces of regular beer, or 8 to 9 fluid ounces of malt liquor.
Knowing what a standard drink actually is and making small changes such as switching to a straight-sided glass can help individuals make more accurate judgments of the amount that they are drinking and help them drink at a slower pace.
Change Your Glass and Monitor Consumption
Environmental factors such as the color, size, and shape of glassware can influence how we experience drinking. Specialty “fluted” beer glasses with curves may make the drink look more appealing, but it’s also been proven to trick bar patrons into thinking that they’ve consumed less alcohol than they actually have. Use tall, narrow glasses when drinking alcohol and actively monitor how much you’ve had to drink. Knowing the effect that glass shape can have on the speed at which you consume alcohol can help you pace yourself better the next time you’re out.
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