Research Note: Individual Characteristics of Aggressive Beer and Distilled Beverage Drinkers

Abstract

Sixty male social drinkers completed the MMPI and a drinking history and attitude questionnaire. These individuals were then randomly divided into four groups, receiving either a distilled or brewed beverage, or two comparable placebos. Subjects in the alcohol groups became equally intoxicated (BAC =. 71) and rated themselves as significantly more intoxicated than placebo subjects. All subjects then participated in a Buss aggression task. Aggression scales were related to the pretask personality, history, and attitude measures. Differences were found between factors descriptive of subjects who became aggressive after consuming or believing they had consumed a distilled versus a brewed beverage. In particular, a history of lack of positive alcohol effects and social maladjustment were typical of high-aggressive distilled alcohol and alcohol-placebo subjects, while the presence of family problems and anxiety typified high-aggressive beer and placebo-beer subjects.