Not just drinking Alcohol may also cloud our senses

Study: Already the smell of alcohol influences our behavior
High alcohol consumption damages our health. That's been known for a long time. A new study from the UK now suggests that even the smell of "liquor" causes them to drink it. Also the sight of alcohol can lead to a higher consumption.

High alcohol consumption is unhealthy
It has long been known that consuming larger amounts of alcohol damages our health. Alcoholism increases the risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, fatty liver, lipid metabolism disorders, osteoporosis, nerve damage or various cancers such as colon cancer. Even as a fattener, alcohol is underestimated. According to the Federal Statistical Office, alcohol causes more deaths than traffic accidents. Drinking less or even ceasing to drink is very difficult for most people. A new study now suggests that even the smell of alcohol causes it to consume.

Already the smell of alcohol fogs our senses and may cause us to drink more of it. British researchers have found that out. (Image: Nejron Photo / fotolia.com)

Already the sight of alcohol causes arousal
Already in previous studies it is clear that the sight of alcohol can lead to physiological arousal and salivation. It has also been shown that such stimuli reinforce the tendency towards alcohol consumption. A recent study by Edge Hill University in Ormskirk (England) has now discovered a new factor as an explanation of how alcohol dependence can arise. In the study, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, scientists found that the smell of alcohol alone can make some people lose control of themselves.

Tendency to alcohol consumption increased by smell
The study participants wore face masks with odors for the examinations. One group was confronted with an alcoholic odor, the other with a non-alcoholic citrus solution. The subjects were then instructed to press a button when they saw the letter K or a picture with a bottle of beer. If the button was pressed incorrectly, this was considered a "false alarm". This was interpreted as an indication that the subject lost control of his behavior. The participants with the alcohol mask reported more frequent false alarms. The researchers assume that cognitive processes are stimulated by sight and smell, which increases the tendency to alcohol consumption.

Addictive behavior is influenced by our environment
Study author Dr. Rebecca Monk explained: "The smell in an old cupboard can remind us, for example, of a loving relative," "the same applies to alcohol. I know some people who can not stand the sight or smell of a particular drink because it reminds them of past, unpleasant experiences that came from over-consuming the drink. "She continued," We know that Alcohol addiction is influenced by our environment. This includes the people around us and the situations in which we drink. "

New insights into dependence on addictive substances
The researcher said, "This research is the first attempt to investigate triggers such as smell that affect the ability to restrain behavior. The smell of alcohol seemed to make it more difficult for people to control their behavior and keep them from pressing the button. "Her colleague Prof. Derek Heim added that the findings can provide new insights into dependence and abuse of addictive substances , (Ad)