Beer goggles theory is explained

You know the story. A few drinks down the pub and even the plainest member of the opposite sex seems attractive. But when you meet them in the cold sober light of day you simply cannot understand what you saw in them.

Now scientists have found there is truth in the 'beer goggles' effect, where someone looks more attractive as you drink more alcohol. In a study by Glasgow University, 40 students drank two pints of lager and 40 abstained. Then they were all asked to rate faces of members of the opposite sex on their attractiveness.

Those who had drunk found a face an average of 25 per cent more attractive than those who had not. Researcher Prof Barry Jones said: 'The increase in perceived attractiveness appeared to be the same for the ugly people as the pretty people.'

On a serious note, the National Union of Students has joined an alcohol industry body to launch an anti-binge drinking campaign after research showed 1 million 18 to 24-year-olds got drunk every week.