New publications
The rate at which alcohol is consumed depends on the shape of the glass
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
British scientists have found that the rate at which alcohol is absorbed is influenced by the shape of the glass it is poured into.
According to the World Health Organization, alcohol abuse is becoming a pressing problem for the younger generation. Drunkenness kills 2.5 million people every year.
A team of experts led by Dr. Angela Attwood from the University of Bristol (UK) conducted an experiment to find out whether the shape of the container affects the speed of consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Scientists selected 160 people aged 18 to 40 who drank beer regularly but did not abuse it. Using random selection, the volunteers were divided into several groups.
The researchers asked participants to watch a nature documentary while drinking 6 or 12 ounces of dark beer or soda from straight or curved glasses. The choice of a film on this topic was not accidental. It was done so that bored beer lovers would have no choice but to drink the intoxicating beverage.
As a result of the experiment, it was possible to establish that the shape of the container did not affect the rate of absorption of the soft drink, but the rate of beer consumption was different. People in those groups who got curved glasses drank faster, and those who drank the foamy drink from straight ones - slower.
In terms of time, it looks like this: beer lovers finished the contents of the glasses that tapered towards the bottom in eight minutes, while those who got glasses with straight walls finished the contents in thirteen minutes.
Scientists suggest that it is more difficult for a person drinking from a curved vessel to estimate the volume and speed of consumption of a drink.
After the beer-drinking phase, the volunteers moved on to the picture-evaluation phase. Those subjects who managed to drink the beer in 8 minutes also made mistakes in estimating the amount of drink in the curved mug. The degree of this error interacted with the same “acceleration” with which they drank the beer in reality.
When drinking alcohol, a person mentally sets himself up for the right, correct speed of absorption of the drink.
If the glass from which he drinks creates an optical illusion, then this will prevent him from correctly assessing the volume of the contents, and therefore the “incorrect” speed of its consumption will be exceeded, and this threatens “overdoing it” and the consequences of alcohol intoxication.
However, some scientists have expressed doubts about the objectivity of this study. The participants in the experiment were also people who drink about 12 liters of beer every day, so the size, shape and any other characteristics of the glasses do not bother them.