Wine drinkers walk, beer drinkers walk to pub

National Post ^ | October 29, 2003 | Tom Blackwell

[Loyalist]

From the more reserved wine drinker to the A-type beer swiller, the kind of alcohol someone quaffs often indicates a certain personality type, a new study by researchers in Winnipeg concludes.

The scientists at the University of Manitoba's Alcohol and Tobacco Research Unit found relatively distinct psychological traits when they surveyed hundreds of beer, wine and liquor afficionados.

Beer drinkers tended to be more extroverted and ego-driven, the wine drinkers less so, and spirits drinkers fell somewhere in between the two, the study found.

The findings may shed some light on conflicting evidence about the health benefits of certain types of alcohol, such as red wine, says the paper, published this month in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol.

While it is clear that alcohol in general can aid cardiovascular health, the apparent advantages of one type of drink may have as much to do with the psyche of the people who consume it as the properties of the beverage itself, the study suggested.

The lifestyles of the different groups would likely add another factor, said Robert Murray, one of the paper's authors.

"Wine drinkers might be more sophisticated; they might be more health conscious; they might eat healthy food and exercise," he said in an interview. "Whereas beer drinkers and liquor drinkers are more likely to be found sitting in the pub."

The conclusions on personality were drawn from a detailed survey of 1,257 Manitoba adults, who were interviewed in person and filled out detailed psychological questionnaires. They included 202 whose preference was for wine, 340 who drank mostly beer and 542 who leaned toward hard liquor.

Wine drinkers were the least extroverted and scored lowest on ego strength and on a scale measuring "sensation seeking" -- a sort of quest for stimulation of some kind.

Beer drinkers scored highest on extroversion, ego strength and sensation-seeking. They also scored highest on psychoticism -- a tendency toward anti-social behaviour.

The spirits drinkers were in between the two other groups, the study found.

The traits of the beer drinkers would fit into the category of A-type personality, considered a risk factor for heart disease, and might explain why some research indicates beer is less beneficial to heart health than wine, Dr. Murray said.

He said the personality differences in the groups may be partly related to demographics. Wine drinkers tend to be older, female, better educated and married, while beer drinkers were more likely to be young, male, less educated and single. But the survey found similar personality differences within separate groups of males and females.

Bartenders agreed yesterday that alcohol preferences often say a lot about their patrons' temperament.

"Beer drinkers are a bit more talkative and will talk about everything and anything," said Julé Malet-Veale, bartender at Jon Alan's Cigar Bar in Halifax.

tblackwell@nationalpost.com

© Copyright 2003 National Post

[tdadams]

I was asking the same thing, I guess we are well rounded and ballance individuals.

Either that or you have competing multiple personality disorder.

[CJ Wolf]

Some times I like beer, some times I like wine and some times scotch, sambucca, gin, vodka, brandy and whiskey. But I'm not stupid, I stay away from that tequila stuff. It all depends of course on what's the occasion. I am well rounded then, but sometimes I get off balance when drinking that tequila stuff or the goldslager.

[highnoon]

All the scientists had to do was talk to 10 local bartenders, and they would have gotten the same answers. They should have gone deeper with the study, determining what personalities develop with different types of liquor, and with mixing liquor.

Remember kids:

Beer before liquor, never been sicker;
Liquor before beer, you're in the clear.

[G L Tirebiter]

I drink all three 'types'. What's that make me?

Me too...So do we suffer from multiple personality disorders?

[Billthedrill]

No, you don't. But you, and you, and you sure do.

[stevio]

Although we may sometimes have problems with the balance part.

[patton]

Oh, that's just wrong.

Wein nach Bier, dass rat' ich Dir - Bier nach Wein, lass' es allein...

(Liquer after bier ok - Bier after liqeur no way)

[SoothingDave]

Next up, the University of Manitoba's Alcohol and Tobacco Research Unit studies the veracity of the proposition: "If you like to drink your whiskey, you might even shoot yourself"

[Hildy]

This is a trick question, right?

[sit-rep]

I cannot go along with a study from canada... this is America. We are a whole different bread...

[sit-rep]

bread = breed... (cough)

[Michael81Dus]

Actually, these sayings are BS. I´ve read a study that it doesn´t matter what you drink when. The content of alcohol in your blood is decisive, if you´ve drinken too much (depends on your individual condition), you will feel sick or eventually barf.

I tested it all, there´s no difference between beer after or before liquer/wine. ;-)

[Wallace T.]

Wasn't Halifax the city that banned the wearing of perfume and cologne in public places? If Chanel No. 5 and Old Spice are illegal in public, how can Camels and White Owls be legal? Or are Nova Scotians really different from their fellow Canadians and their American neighbors?

[metesky]

Warrior.

[oyez]

I don't remember. I was in Halifax once courtesy of the US Navy and I don't remember leaving due to the fact that Halifaxians were rather courteous as well.

[Blue Collar Christian]

I know, huh!

I should apply for that grant. It could be part of my new program to accellerate the bankruptcy of the country so we can get to the point where we dump the tax and spenders.

[philetus]

Any chance I can get some of that grant as your technical advisor?

[tet68]

And we Aquavelva drinkers smell the best.

[ErnBatavia]

beer drinkers fantisize about doing neat stuff,

You're probably right...otherwise the saying would be "Hold muh White Zin and watch this!"

[cajun-jack]

nope..you are only an alcoholic if you attend meetings..don't go to meetings and you are just a damn ole drunk!!!

I ain't a wino..i'm an anyo..i'll drink any o thing!!