Comments on: Pick Your Poison: A Diet Mixer Could Make You Get Drunk Faster

By: Epidemiologist

Epidemiologist — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:00:49 +0000

1) Very small sample size, split into two groups that can’t be compared with each other. 2)What did they control for? Confounders: race, ethnicity, tolerance, body fat percentage, height, etc. I don’t see them controlling for any of these. 3) We have no p-values or confidence intervals reported. Again, such a small sample size means the difference could more easily be due to pure chance. 4) The list goes on. I wouldn’t expect something with the name Smithsonian to print something so ridiculous and unscientifically rigorous. At least acknowledge the study’s monumental shortcomings before you tout this crap as fact.

By: John Smith

John Smith — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:56:15 +0000

Wouldn’t 4.2oz (4-1/4 shots) of vodka put anyone over the legal standard of .08? Unless they waited three hours or took the tests within approx 5 mins?
Also I would like to see the actual BAC’s (Not BrAC’s) in comparison. Perhaps there is a chemical in the sugar-free sodas which expedite the metabolism and respiration of alcohol.
Finally, is there any data on the drinking experience (re: perceived tolerance) for the data collected regarding “subjective ratings including feelings of intoxication, impairment, and willingness to drive”?

By: canopy tent

canopy tent — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:54:39 +0000

I believe the risks associated with drinking can be reduced by greater attention to mixers, particularly diet colas.

By: sandyra

sandyra — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:26:57 +0000

Those diet drinks have phenyalanine (nutrasweet) for the sweetener. Would it be the same if you used a diet drink sweetened with Splenda (sucralose)?

By: Rick DeBay

Rick DeBay — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:12:23 +0000

I’d hazard that it’s the fructose sweetener in regular soda increasing alcohol metabolism, rather than the diet drink slowing metabolism or speeding uptake:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1854373
The effect of fructose on alcohol metabolism and on the [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio in man
“The mean rate of alcohol metabolism increased by 80% after fructose…”

By: Jim Hartman

Jim Hartman — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 01:44:32 +0000

Money saving tip – save 20% on liquor by using diet soda.