How different alcohols directly affect our mood, according to a large-scale study

A new study has confirmed something we’ve known all along – different types of alcohol have different effects on our mood.

The study, published in the journal BMJ Open looked at 30,000 people aged between 18 and 34 from 21 different countries.

All of the respondents drank beer, wine and spirits and were asked to list the feelings associated with them when they were at home versus when they were out.

Unsurprisingly, red wine was found to make people feel more lethargic than white wine and beer was found to make them feel relaxed.

Nearly half of the respondents (40 per cent) said that spirits made them feel sexy and over half said spirits made them more confident and gave them energy.

However, not all benefits of alcohol are positive – and there’s a reason why we all have aggressive drunk friends and the friend who always cries after a few too many G&Ts.

A third of people questioned said they felt more aggressive when they were drinking spirits and spirits were also linked to illness, tearfulness and restlessness.

Those aged between 18 and 24 were more likely to have strong associations between alcohol, confidence, energy and feeling sexy when drinking away from home (read: fresher’s week).

In general, men were more likely to associate all types of alcohol with aggression.

“Understanding emotions associated with alcohol consumption is imperative to addressing alcohol misuse, providing insight into what emotions influence drink choice between different groups in the population,” the researchers said.

Co-study author, Professor Mark Bellis added: “For centuries, the history of rum, gin, vodka and other spirits has been laced with violence. This global study suggests even today consuming spirits is more likely to result in feelings of aggression than other drinks.

“In the UK, a litre of off-licence spirits can easily be bought for £15 or less, making a double shot only 75p. Such prices can encourage consumption at levels harmful to the health of the drinker and through violence and injuries also represent a risk to the people around them.”

Remember, if you are having a tipple or two, to always drink responsibly.