Sight for poor eyes

Many of us have experienced Beer Goggles – the source of many regrets after a heavy night out.

But now science can explain how it happens, from the first glimpses across the bar, to the bitter end.

The drink-fuelled phenomenon has long been said to transform less attractive people into beauties - until the morning after.

Researchers at Manchester University, who came up with the formula, say while beauty is in the eye of the beerholder, the amount of alcohol consumed is not the only factor.

Additional factors for this phenomenon also include the level of light in the pub or club, the drinker’s own eyesight and the amount of smoke in the room.

The distance between two people is also a factor.

All the various parts add up to make the aesthetically-challenged more attractive, according to the formula.

It is even possible to work out a final score, ranging from less than one - where there is no beer goggle effect - to more than 100. Between one and 50 is the level to which a person you would normally find unattractive appears less ‘visually offensive.’ Non-appealing people become suddenly attractive between 51 and 100. At more than 100, someone not considered attractive looks like a super model.

So take this formula out with you to work out on a beer mat - providing you can still write and think straight of course.

An = number of units of alcohol consumed S = smokiness of the room (graded from 0-10, where 0 clear air; 10 extremely smoky) L = luminance of ‘person of inter.....

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By Dominic Roskrow

Section : Beer Matters

Page number : 56