has been reported not to significantly alter the
cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to
submaximal exercise (Bond et al. 1983; Mangum
et al. 1986). Dose–response relationships, inter-
and intrasubject variability, and difficulty with
providing a suitable placebo may all help to
explain the difficulty of conducting and inter-
preting alcohol studies. In general it has been
concluded that the acute ingestion of alcohol has
no beneficial effects on aspects of muscle func-
tion and performance tasks: because it may
actually produce detrimental responses, it is best
avoided.
The few studies of acute alcohol ingestion and
actual sports performance show variability in
results and responses. For example, Houmard
and others (1987) reported that the ingestion of
small amounts of alcohol (keeping BAC below
0.05 g · 100 ml–1) did not have a significant effect
on the performance of a 8-km treadmill time
trial, although there was a trend towards perfor-
mance deterioration at higher blood alcohol
levels. Meanwhile, McNaughton and Preece
(1986) tested the performance of runners over
various distances ranging from 100 to 1500 m,
at four different levels of alcohol consumption
(BAC estimated at 0–0.1 g · 100 ml–1). Alcohol
intake did not affect performance of 100-m times
in sprinters, but reduced performance over 200
and 400 m as alcohol intake increased. Middle-
distance runners showed impaired performance
in 800 and 1500 m run times, with these effects
also being dose-related. An earlier study by
Hebbelinck (1963) showed no effect of alcohol
(0.6 ml of 94% ethanol · kg–1body mass) on iso-
metric strength, but a 6% reduction in vertical
jump height and a 10% decrease in performance
in an 80-m sprint.
Motor control and skill performance
There is a limited amount of information avail-
able on the effects of acute ingestion of alcohol
on motor control and the performance of skilled
tasks. It is, however, clear from the controlled
studies that have been conducted that alcohol
has an adverse effect on tasks where concen-
408 nutrition and exercise
tration, visual perception, reaction time, and co-
ordination are involved (Williams 1995). In many
of the earlier studies that showed a detrimental
effect of even small doses of alcohol on compo-
nents of athletic performance, the performance
measures were not well standardized and
the results are difficult to interpret. Hebbelinck
(1963), however, showed that posture control
deteriorated after alcohol ingestion, with both
the extent and frequency of sway being
markedly increased: this represents a mild
version of the unsteadiness and ataxia that is
apparent after higher levels of alcohol intake.
In 1982, the American College of Sports Medi-
cine published a Position Statement on the use of
alcohol in sports, and this included a review of
the research to date on the effects of alcohol on
performance: this literature was also reviewed
by Williams (1985). The available evidence
showed a detrimental effect of small to moderate
amounts of alcohol on reaction time, hand–eye
co-ordination, accuracy, balance and complex
skilled tasks, with no evidence cited to support
the purported beneficial effects of reduced
tremor. It has, however, been proposed that the
ingestion of small amounts of alcohol may result
in a greater feeling of self-confidence in athletes
(Shephard 1972), and this may, in turn, improve
performance in some situations. The interference
of alcohol with the judgement and skill involved
in the fine motor skills required for driving
accounts for the legislation to prevent indivi-
duals who have been drinking from driving
automobiles.Effects of acute alcohol ingestion on
postexercise recovery
There is evidence that the postcompetition situa-
tion is often associated with alcohol intake and
binge drinking, and it is likely that social rituals
after training or practice sessions in some sports
(particularly in lower level competitions) may
also involve moderate to heavy intake of alcohol.
Given that athletes may be dehydrated and
have eaten little on the day of competition, it is
likely that alcohol consumed after exercise is