OVER HALF OF IRISH ADULTS have sent text messages to an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend while drunk after a night out – despite studies proving that alcohol has nothing to do with a person’s behaviour, even if they’re drunk.

The poll, published this morning by alcohol awareness site DrinkAware.ie, said the majority of respondents had sent 4am texts to a former flame, either declaring their undying love for them or perhaps saying something a little less friendly.

The fact that many blamed alcohol was merely a convenient get-out clause, however – citing research that shows it is possible for a person to control their behaviour, even when drunk, if they truly want to.

“The fact is that if you expect to react in a certain way to a certain alcoholic drink, you will, even though all alcohol is pretty much the same,” the survey said. “Whether it’s beer, wine or spirits, it is really just ethanol with some flavourings.”

The survey also found that a majority of respondents had accidentally kissed someone else on a Halloween night out, mistaking their partner for someone else wearing a similar costume.

The survey, conducted on PigsBack.com, was intended to expose myths about the effects of alcohol in the run-up to October 31st, and promoting the idea of a “horror-free Halloween”.
DrinkAware.ie chief executive Fionnuala Sheehan commended the findings which said that only 61% of people believed mixing drinks to contribute to a hangover, down from 81% in January.

“However, there is still a lot of confusion over the effects of alcohol on the body with many using alcohol as an excuse for their Halloween Horrors. For too long, myths around alcohol have supported, and in some instances encouraged, irresponsible drinking and behaviour in Ireland.

“This survey reminds us of the need to challenge these myths and continue to educate people about the dangers of excessive drinking”.
DrinkAware.ie also confirmed that women are unable to absorb alcohol to the measure – or “handle their drink” – as well as men.

The survey did, however, acknowledge that one ‘myth’ is true: there are such things as beer goggles. 75% of respondents admitted falling victim to them before, waking up with someone markedly less attractive than they had been the night before.