Arousal in alcoholics and social drinkers progressing through a drinking sequence.

Physiological and self-report reactions of 11 nonabstinent, nonhospitalized alcoholics and 11 social drinkers were monitored before, during, and after consumption of two supposedly alcoholic beverages. Unlike previous reports that alcoholics experience increased anxiety/arousal prior to drinking, no such evidence was observed in the present study. Both alcoholics and social drinkers, however evidenced reduced pulse rates during and following drinking. It is suggested that previous investigations may have found predrinking anxiety increases because of their use of hospitalized (and often abstinent) alcoholic and/or their use of procedures which highlighted the negative aspects/consequences of drinking.