We’ve all been there. Carefully watching the number of drinks we have so we don’t get too drunk to drive, too drunk to have fun, or (for the less fortunate of us) too drunk to go back home to your parents.
But what if we told you that it’s not just the number of drinks you consume that affects how intoxicated you get?
Well, if you’re one of those that prefer to mix your drinks in diet soda instead of regular mixers, then pay attention.
Because the Simthsonian Mag reveals that a drink mixed in diet Coke or any diet soda gets you considerably drunker than the same drink mixed in its sugary counterpart.
According to a recent study that evaluated the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) among 16 participants, those who’d been given diet soda as a mixer had their BrAC peak at levels 18% higher than those whose drink was mixed with regular soda.
The researchers also tested the subjects’ reaction times with a computer-based test, and found stark differences between the two groups who had actually consumed the exact same amount of alcohol.
The only variable was their mixer – diet or regular. And those who mixed using diet Coke responded significantly slower.
This phenomenon has been explained by the researchers with the way that our body assimilates the synthetic sweeteners that diet soda contains. Turns out the body recognises regular soda (consisting of sugar) as food which slows down the rate of alcohol absorption into the blood.
Diet soda, on the other hand, only contains aspartame – a chief component in artificial sweeteners – that isn’t treated as food by the digestive system. This leaves the alcohol in the drink to get absorbed far more quickly.
Interestingly, most of us with alcohol-impaired judgement, gauge how drunk we are by the number of drinks we’ve had. And those mixing them with diet soda are at a far greater risk of miscalculating their ability to drive or engage in any other risky activity.
So take it from the experts, ladies and gentlemen. Either stay away from diet soda when mixing your drinks, or be extremely cautious in judging how drunk you are afterwards.
Got it? Good. Now go partayyy!