Pour Me in the Tall Glass, not the Short One, I Don't Want to Get Drunk Again

In the eve and during the winter holidays, aside from the food excesses, people also tend to exaggerate with alcoholic beverages (which they regret afterwards). Still, if you are 'forced' to take part in such a 'slaughter' abounding in ethylic alcohol, coming in different concentration (and most likely you will), you can avoid the second day hangover by efficiently controlling the quantity of alcohol you consume.

According to a new study carried out by Cornell University researchers, when pouring liquor, even professional bartenders unintentionally pour 20 to 30 percent more into short, squat glasses than into tall, thin ones, and this is due to the optical illusion that vertical lines are longer than horizontal ones.

"[…] people who pour into short, wide glasses consistently believe that they pour less than those who pour into tall, narrow glasses. And education, practice, concentration and experience don't correct the overpouring," said Brian Wansink, Cornell professor and author of the study.

In separate studies, the researchers asked 198 college students and 86 professional bartenders to pour a shot (1.5 oz.) into either short, wide tumblers or tall, thin highball glasses.
It was observed that college students consistently poured 30 percent more alcohol into the short glasses than into the tall, and the bartenders poured 20 percent more.

Wansink's advice for bars and restaurants and for those who don't want to unintentionally drink too much is to use tall glasses or glasses with alcohol-level marks etched.