Alcohol and vigilance performance: effect of small doses of alcohol on simple auditory reaction time.

This study explored whether a small dose of alcohol (0.67 ml/kg) would affect simple auditory RT as developed with time on task in a vigilance setting. Analysis indicated that absolute levels were not affected and no interaction with time on task was evident. Alcohol did, however, increase both number and mean duration of the extreme long reactions but this effect was not related to time on task. It was concluded that in many applied situations this effect of small alcohol doses may be critical.