Effects of rate of drinking on human performance.

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Abstract
A total of 40 men (mean age 26), categorized as moderate or heavy drinkers, were randomly assigned to 5 groups, 4 of which received alcohol. All 4 groups were given doses calculated to produce peak blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.10%, but were required to drink at different rates: group I, 15 min, group 2, 30 min; group 3, 1 h and group 4, 4 h. Group 5 drank only orange juice. The subjects completed a test of response latency (Nixie light test), a visual backward masking test and a hand-steadiness test after they reached peak BAC (mean, 0.096%) and again after their BAC dropped to 0.05%. In general, the performance of the faster drinkers were poorer than that of the slower drinkers. Results on the hand-steadiness test indicated an over-all rate-of-drinking effect. On the visual backward masking test and the Nixie light test no over-all differences were found, but group I performed significantly worse than the other 3 alcohol-receiving groups combined (both P < .01). At BAC of 0.05%, differences as a function of rate of drinking remained, but none were statistically significant. Rapid drinking, often required in laboratory studies of the effects of alcohol, may not allow sufficient time for the development of short-term adaptation to alcohol. Rate of drinking must be considered in interpreting laboratory findings on the effects of alcohol.

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