Expert: Jan Edward Williams - 1/5/2008

Question
Hi,

The day-to-day life of many students, certainly here in the UK, is to spend all day working very very hard and learning lots of new material, and then to go out in the evening and consume alcohol, often in large quantities.

I'd be very grateful if you could tell me whether there is any scientific evidence to suggest that drinking significantly reduces our ability to recall, at a later stage, the information learned prior to going out.

(Similarly, if we spend a several hours practicing an instrument, or perfecting our ball skills - i.e. physical as well as mental memory - does alcohol consumed later have any effect?)

Many thanks for your help!

Mike

Answer
Hello Mike,
I do not have the time to research this question, but can say that I know of no research specifically addressing your question, that is, research that drinking can directly interfere with a person's ability to access data stored before drinking. Cognition and clarity of thinking will, of course, be affected following a period of excessive drinking.