INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN THE ACUTE RESPONSE TO ALCOHOL

Individual differences in the response to alcohol were examined. In the first study 16 male subjects administered alcohol under controlled conditions varied extensively in time to peak breath alcohol, peak breath alcohol level, elimination rate, time course of impairment and subjective drunkenness. In a second study on 60 male subjects such variations were predicted with recent consumption, family drug and alcohol problems, extraversion, neuroticism, anxiety and sensation-seeking. Men who reported recently consuming more alcohol tended to achieve higher peak breath alcohol levels (BAL). Eating more breakfast slightly reduced BAL. Men with higher BAL, who had recently drunk more and who were more neurotic tended to track less well after alcohol. Men who reported higher recent consumption tended to react more quickly after alcohol, although they were nonetheless slower than baseline. Men who were more anxious, neurotic and sensation-seeking tended to report higher consumption of alcohol. It is concluded that individual differences, particularly recent consumption, are important determinants of the response to alcohol and that, rather than directly affecting the response to alcohol, personality primarily affects consumption, which in turn affects performance and alcohol metabolism.