Un-blithe spirits

In vino veritas, wrote Pliny the Elder, citing an old Roman proverb. But if truth is uncovered through drinking wine, a whole gamut of emotions can be inspired by other alcoholic drinks according to a new study. Spirits were more likely to induce aggression than wine or beer. Is anyone surprised? A glass of wine is usually consumed in very different circumstances to a shot of vodka or a tot of whisky, though the latter is also apparently associated with confidence and sex appeal. Gin is often credited with inducing sadness, perhaps a legacy of the days when it was the drug of choice among London’s poor – Mother’s Ruin, indeed. But imbibers did tell researchers that they felt tearful after drinking the spirit. Perhaps they had seen how much it costs nowadays. Certainly not a penny.