Alcohol effects still there next day

THE effects of a boozy bank holiday drinking session could last longer than you think, a new study suggests.

The cognitive impairments seen when people are drunk are still present the day after, when there is little to no alcohol left in the bloodstream.

Psychologists at the University of Bath have discovered that hungover people have poorer attention, memory and psychomotor skills such as co-ordination and speed compared to when sober.

The researchers suggest their findings have important implications when it comes to activities performed when hungover, including driving.

For example individuals might typically wait until they believe there is no alcohol in the system before driving. These new results suggest that we could still be impaired in terms of the cognitive processes required, even after alcohol has left the bloodstream.

The researchers warn that although many workplaces have clear policies in place regarding alcohol intoxication, few cover the next-day effects of alcohol.

For certain jobs, they suggest, employees should be aware of the real effects that hangovers can have, and employers might do well to consider revising guidelines on safety grounds.

The hangover is the most commonly reported negative consequence of alcohol use and is already estimated to cost the UK economy £1.9 billion a year due to absenteeism.

A Systematic Review Of The Effects Of Alcohol Hangover On Cognitive Performance is published in the journal Addiction.