Science Says There Are Four Types of Drinkers
By Alissa Greenberg July 17, 2015

What type of drinker are you? If you sometimes indulge in alcoholic beverages, then you probably know the answer. Some people get angry and confrontational, others shed their inhibitions and become more social, while others don't seem to really be affected all that much. It's quite interesting how people can act so differently when drinking, so psychology researchers from the University of Missouri at Columbia set out to see if science could help explain it.

According to their study in Addiction Research & Theory, which involved 374 undergraduates, there are four types of drinkers: the Ernest Hemingway, the Mary Poppins, the Nutty Professor and the Mr. Hyde. As you can see, the types were named using pop culture and literature references to keep things interesting and fun.

The largest group is the Ernest Hemingways, named for the writer who boasted that he could “drink hells any amount of whiskey without getting drunk.” This group does not show any major personality changes when drinking.

The next group, the Mary Poppins drinkers, are outgoing people who become even sweeter and more social than they already are. These people are just a spoonful of sugar when drinking.

The Nutty Professors, named after Eddie Murphy's famous character, are natural introverts who kick their inhibitions to the curb and develop a more social side. Liquid courage and confidence.

Finally, the Mr. Hydes have an evil-twin appear when drinking. These people tend to become less responsible and intellectual, and more hostile.

So, do you fit into one of these four types? If you were born between 1946 and 1964, there is a good chance you do. While the rates of drinking alcohol over the past few decades have decreased significantly in most age brackets, they have almost tripled over the past decade within the baby boomer generation. Alcohol-related hospital admissions amongst people between 55 and 74 years old have also tripled in the past ten years. Boomers represent about a third of the American population, yet they account for nearly 45% of all the alcohol consumed!

While this study is certainly interesting and amusing - especially when you attempt to categorize your friends - can it be useful? The study authors hope this knowledge can be threaded into future alcoholism programs. Speaking of alcoholism, heavy drinking is a problem if it causes trouble in your relationships, in school, in social activities, or in how you think and feel. Conversely, binge drinking is defined as 5+ alcoholic drinks for males or 4+ for females on the same occasion on at least 1 day during the past month. Regardless, if you are concerned that you or someone you know might have a drinking problem, consult your personal health care provider right away. You can also reach out to the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service at 1-800-662-HELP. 

 

 




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