LABORATORY PERFORMANCE DURING ACUTE ALCOHOL-INTOXICATION AND HANGOVER

Eleven private pilots (seven men and four women) were recruited and trained on the Multiple Task Performance Battery (MTPB), static and dynamic tracking of a localizer/glide slope instrument, and use of the Intoxilyzer. Results showed clear deleterious effects of alcohol on the MTPB and the tracking tasks immediately following drinking. During the morning (hangover) tests, scores on the MTPB and on the static and dynamic tracking tasks showed small circadian effects (scores were better) without impairment due to the alcohol. There were no congener effects. These results offer no evidence contrary to the ″8 hour rule″ . The ″8 hour rule″ refers to the fact that Federal Aviation Regulation 91. 11 states in part that no one may act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft within 8 hr after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage or while under the influence of alcohol.