A scientific study proved that human may be affected by what he or she believe even if it is wrong and just thinking in a fake thing may affect our behavior……
A research performed by Seema Assefi and Maryanne Garry, two psychologists at Victoria University in New Zealand illustrated that human memory can be affected by alcohol.
Tests showed that participants in an experiment who were told they were drinking vodka, but were not, were more swayed by misleading information and more certain their memory was correct than those who were told they were drinking tonic water. Dr Garry says the research has given new insights into how human memory works and how both social and non-social influences can affect a person’s recall of events.
“What we have done is that we have made people’s memory worse by telling them that they were intoxicated even though they had drunken nothing stronger than plain flat tonic water with limes,” he adds.
In the study, 148 students were split into two groups, half being told they were getting vodka and tonic and the rest told they were getting just tonic. In reality, all were getting just plain tonic. The research was carried out in a bar-like room equipped with bartenders, vodka bottles, tonic bottles, and glasses.
Researchers poured flat tonic water from sealed vodka bottles to appear genuine. The deception was completed by rimming glasses with limes dunked in vodka
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After consuming their drinks, the students watched a sequence of slides depicting a crime. They also read a summary of the crime that contained misleading information.
Scientists say that just thinking about Alcohol can make people tipsy
“We found people who thought they were intoxicated were more suggestible and made worse eyewitnesses compared with those who thought they were sober,” Seema Assefi says. “In fact the ‘vodka and tonic’ students acted drunk, some even showing physical signs of intoxication,” she adds.
“When students were told the true nature of the experiment at the completion of the study, many were amazed that they had only received plain tonic, insisting that they had felt drunk at the time,” she comments. Dr Garry concludes: “It showed that even thinking you’ve been drinking affects your behavior
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Some figures about Alcohol consumption in United Kingdom
Statistics in 2003 showed the following figures about alcohol around the UK:
- One in three men and one in five women fail to drink sensibly.
- Youngsters are starting to binge-drink at an earlier age.as the binge-drinking period that was once confined to the late teens runs from 16 to 24.
- Officials say that the government would have to increase spending on alcohol services from £100m to £300m.
- Governmental reports say that Britain’s binge drinking culture is costing the country £20 billion a year and 17 million working days are lost to hangovers and drink-related illness each year.
- Billions more are spent clearing up alcohol-related crime and social problems. In addition, alcohol-related problems are responsible for 22,000 premature deaths each year and Up to1.3 million children are affected by parents with drink problems.
Conclusion
Alcohol has a harmful effects on people and community and finding of the study and above figures illustrates why prophet Mohamed peace be upon him ordered Muslims not to even sit with people who are drinking alcohol as the prophet tells his companion the famous hadith about Alcohol as he said: ”whoever believe in Allah Almighty and the hereafter shouldn’t sit in a table where alcohol is on it” {narrated by Ahmed and Al-Albany categorized it as a right Hadith}.
People for many years were wondering about what behind that hadith as it is enough for Muslims not to drink alcohol or carry it or gain money from it but after publishing the results of the previous study, it is now clear why prophet Mohamed peace be upon him warned us from even sitting with people who are drinking because we will get the same effects as those who are drinking Alcohol.
Hence we have to understand why Allah Almighty tells us about prophet Mohamed the following: (Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad ) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad ) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allah, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful.){Sûrat At-Taubah – The Repentance –verse 128}.
“Our Lord Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after you have guided us, and grant us mercy from you. Truly you are the bestower”
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By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel
References:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3035442.stm
