Hand-eye coordination affected by alcohol at lower than legal driving limit

Researchers have found that hand-eye coordination is more sensitive to alcohol than previously thought with impairment of 20% occurring at blood alcohol concentrations of 0.015%.

Previous studies said that eye movements and vision were only affected at blood alcohol concentrations approaching the legal limit of driving (0.08%), researchers explained.

Findings published in the Journal of Physiology revealed that the ability to process visual motion was compromised after consuming the equivalent of less than half a beer for a person around 75kg in weight.

Researchers at Nasa’s Ames Research Center said the study highlighted the impact of minimal alcohol consumption on activities like driving, piloting or operating heavy machinery.