The effects of alcohol can have negative consequences for those who engage in heavy episodic drinking. Consuming large amounts of alcohol can lower inhibitions, cause a person to relax, and perhaps enable them to make choices they otherwise would not, such as getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.
Party-goers might soon be drinking enriched cocktails. Recent research indicates that oxygen-enriched drinks could have a positive effect on blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Baek, Lee and Kwon (2010) wanted to compare the effects of oxygen-enriched drinks on BAC after consuming alcohol to the BAC when only alcoholic drinks were consumed.
The researchers recited 49 healthy adults who had volunteered to participate in up to three experiments. There were 30 participants used in each of three experiments; several of the individuals participated in more than one of the three experiments.
The participants were asked in two phases of each of the experiments to drink 40 ml every five minutes of a drink that was 19.5 percent ethanol by volume and enriched with varying amounts of dissolved oxygen concentration. In one phase, the participants were given “normal” alcohol, and in the other phase they were given oxygen-enriched alcohol.
The researchers measured the BAC levels of the participants at regularly timed intervals by using breath samples.
The results of the study show that no difference was found between oxygen-enriched alcohol and normal alcohol in its ability to raise BAC levels in the participants.
However, there was a difference observed in how soon the participants reached a 0.000 percent BAC. Those who drank an oxygen-enriched drink reached 0.000 percent BAC sooner than those participants who consumed a regular alcoholic drink.
There was no BAC level difference noted between the drinks until 150 minutes had passed after consumption.
There are limitations that may affect the results of this study. The small sample size and use of several participants across multiple experiments may compromise the results. Also, the maximum BAC levels measured in the study were below the U.S. legal limit of 0.08 BAC for driving.
The results of this study may indicate a way to decrease the negative consequences associated with alcohol. It may be possible that the use of oxygen-enriched drinks may help lower the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents because BAC levels are able to move more quickly back to normal.
The drinks may present additional problems, too. With a promise of returning to a normal BAC sooner, individuals may consume more alcohol to achieve a desired intoxication effect. More research is needed to understand the full benefits and risks involved with introducing oxygen-enriched alcohol.
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