Alcohol smell can lead to cravings

The long weekend is over and it is back to work. Long weekends usually mean long parties filled with alcohol and food. But for people battling alcohol addiction, just the slightest sniff can trigger off that craving again.

Recent reports have indicated that South Africa is the leading country in Africa when it comes to alcohol abuse.

A news report from this weekend stated that a motorist had been arrested for being eight times over the legal limit in the Carletonville area in Gauteng!


Meanwhile, hundreds of motorists were arrested across the country for speeding and drinking and driving.

According to World Health Organisation, South Africa is ranked four on a list of countries with the riskiest drinking patterns, with an estimated  five billion litres of alcohol every year being consumed.

A research done by Medical Research Council (MRC) found that South Africa lost about R300 billion in 2009 as a result of alcohol abuse.

This was due to road traffic accidents, crime,  illnesses and even deaths.

However, for those trying to stop drinking, a new study published in journal Psychopharmacology says the smell of alcohol can cause an increase in a person’s risk of addiction.

The study suggest that the sight of alcohol can lead to physiological arousal and salivation.

During the study, a group of participants had to wear face masks.  One of the group wore masks with alcoholic citrus solution in it.

According to the study, the group that wore masks with alcoholic citrus solution in them struggled to control their behaviour.

Both groups were asked to press a button when either the letter K or a picture of a beer bottle appeared on screen. Each time the incorrect button was pressed it was recorded as an indication that the person's ability to control their behaviour  was affected.

“During the experiment, it seemed that just the smell of alcohol was making it harder for participants to control their behaviour to stop pressing a button. We know that alcohol behaviours are shaped by our environment including who we’re with and the settings in which we drink. This research is a first attempt to explore other triggers, such as smell, that may interfere with people’s ability to refrain from a particular behaviour,” Dr Rebecca Monk of Edge Hill University said.

So if you are trying to get away from booze, it is advisable to avoid even the smell of alcohol. 

When did you last take a drink of any kind of alcoholic beverage?

If you are feeling a bit under the weather after the long weekend, take this poll.