April 20, 2007
Beer Goggles As a Math Formula
“Beer Goggles” is the effect of drinking alcohol in a smoky bar and the unattractive women suddenly appearing more attractive. Thanks to British Scientists (called ‘boffins” there), this phenomena now has a proven mathematical formula. It is this:
KEY TO FORMULA
An = number of units of alcohol consumed
S = smokiness of the room (graded from 0-10, where 0 clear air; 10 extremely smoky)
L = luminance of ‘person of interest’ (candelas per square metre; typically 1 pitch black; 150 as seen in normal room lighting)
Vo = Snellen visual acuity (6/6 normal; 6/12 just meets driving standard)
d = distance from ‘person of interest’ (metres; 0.5 to 3 metres)
From the BBC here:
Scientists believe they have worked out a formula to calculate how “beer goggles” affect a drinker’s vision. The drink-fuelled phenomenon is said to transform supposedly “ugly” people into beauties – until the morning after.
Researchers at Manchester University say while beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder, the amount of alcohol consumed is not the only factor.
Additional factors include the level of light in the pub or club, the drinker’s own eyesight and the room’s smokiness.
The distance between two people is also a factor.
The formula can work out a final score, ranging from less than one – where there is no beer goggle effect – to more than 100. Non-appealing people become suddenly attractive between 51 and 100. At more than 100, someone not considered attractive looks like a super model.