We are all familiar with the idea of ‘brewer’s droop’, where men who drink too much are unable to achieve or sustain an erection. While undoubtedly consuming excessive drink may impair a man’s ability to perform in bed, a new study has suggested that conversely, a small amount of alcohol can in fact improve erectile function.
Australian scientists have published research in the Journal of Sexual Health that indicates that men who drank a moderate amount of alcohol reported 30% less sexual problems than tee-totallers. The researchers from the Keogh Institute for Medical Research, in Western Australia, carried out a study of 1,580 men. They found that amongst low-risk drinkers (that is those who consumed up to 4 drinks a day for up to five days a week) there was a favourable link with positive erectile function. Men who drank at weekends or binged had a lower rate of erectile dysfunction than those who only drank once a week or not at all.
However, they did find that the men who performed worst were the heavy drinkers who had given up, those who smoked and those with heart disease. As binging is associated with poor health, it might be argued that short-term bingers might not see their sexual performance affected, but long term as their health deteriorate they might begin to suffer.
The study suggested that better performance might be linked to the freeing properties of alcohol, pointing out “alcohol may increase sexual desire through disinhibition”.