Effect of nucleation on the likeability and drinking rate of lager in social alcohol drinkers

Background. The aim of these studies was to investigate the effect of nucleated glasses on the likeability and drinking rate of lager in social alcohol drinkers. Methods. In Study 1, participants (n = 116) were asked to taste two glasses of lager (280 ml each) in separate 5-minute taste tests and fill out a likeability questionnaire (items on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS)) after each glass in a within-subjects design with one factor of glass (nucleated, non-nucleated). In Study 2, participants (n = 160) were asked to consume a pint of lager (568 ml) and fill out a likeability questionnaire in a between-subjects design with one factor of glass (nucleated, non-nucleated). Results. There was no clear evidence that likeability of lager differed between nucleated and non-nucleated glasses in either study. In Study 1, there was strong evidence (nucleated: 74.2, non-nucleated: 64.0, MD = 10.2, 95% CI: 6.1, 14.2, p < 0.001) that lager in nucleated glasses was more visually appealing (single item from likeability measure) than lager in non-nucleated glasses. In Study 2, there was no clear evidence (nucleated: 16.9 mins, non-nucleated: 16.3 mins, MD: 0.6 mins, p = 0.57) that lager was consumed at different rates from nucleated and non-nucleated glasses. Conclusions. Nucleated lager glasses do not appear to alter the likeability or consumption (volume consumed or drinking rate) of lager, although they do seem to increase the visual appeal of lager.