This item comes our way via the Drudge Report. University of Chicago scientists observed that men who enjoyed a couple of beers did better at problem solving than their sober counterparts. The sweet-spot is at a blood alcohol content of 0.07. By way of reference the legal limit in many states ranges from 0.08 to 0.10. After 0.07, folks begin to trail off.

This wasn’t the first such observation. There is a similar decrease in motor vehicle accidents with a small amount of alcohol in the bloodstream (0.04ish) before risk rises.

The authors attribute the benefit to shutting off parts of the brain allowing for better concentration. Puter, for years, has been espousing the head clearing benefit of a Manhattan for his ability to concentrate.

In addition, Dr. J. can attest to this. He was an Organic Chemistry prodigy back in his days at Ivy University. Indeed one alcohol soaked night his senior year, one of the sophomores tracked him down in one of the local taprooms at about 1:30 AM. He asked Dr. J. a question which Dr. J. answered for him, scribbling on a napkin. He told his pupil, “show me this tomorrow morning at brunch in the dining hall, and I will confirm what I say.” You can imagine Dr. J. was ‘in the cups’ so to speak as he was referring to himself in the first person, but he digresses. He reviewed the sophomore’s question the following morning in the dining hall and found his response to be wholly accurate.

In other words, Dr. J. did the experiment almost two decades ago, and finds this validation of his research both adorable and flattering.

Dr. J.