Alcohol Quiets the Mind's Alarms
Study shows how drinking dulls our sense of mistake-making
We all get a little dumb after a few sips at the bottle. Anyone who's ever been drinking with coworkers can tell you that even the most typically composed, refined individuals turn silly while consuming their preferred poisons. Booze loosens us up in the head, for better or worse. It acts as social lubrication, allowing us to more freely chat with our companions and let our inhibitions slide away. It also acts as the ultimate stupefier, leading us to decisions that we may later seriously regret. People have known for centuries that alcohol enables you to do idiotic stuff. But researchers are just now figuring out the science behind the stupefaction.
