Gin and Tonic at Lunch: Science Says No.

In my ongoing research of Gin and Tonic, I stumbled upon a couple scientific studies on G&T that make a connection between G&T and Reactive Hypoglycemia. The interesting thing is that consuming them on their own doesn't lead to the condition but only when they are combined. Check out the quote from a 1977 study

Alcohol-mediated reactive hypoglycemia may contribute significantly to motor-car accidents in the late afternoon at a time when blood-alcohol levels have fallen below the legal limit.

Read on for the dirty details.



As I am not a scientist, I shall not attempt to interpret the findings, here's some bullet points:

• 8 Healthy individuals, drank 3 large G&T or 3 Large Gin & Slim-line Tonic, and 3 Tonic only.
• After Consumption of G&T the low-point of the blood glucose was lower compared to that with Tonic alone and the Gin& Slim-line tonic
  
• The Studies conclusion: In otherwise healthy individuals a combination of gin and regular tonic can induce reactive hypoglycemia. Acute ingestion of alcohol impairs the epinephrine response and markedly suppresses the release of GH in response to a fall in blood glucose levels.

Read more on reactive hypoglycemia on wiki

The Two Studies:
Gin and Tonic and Reactive Hypoglycemia: What Is Important–the Gin, the Tonic, or Both?¹
Lunchtime gin and tonic a cause of reactive hypoglycaemia.

If you know more about on this subject or science in general or see an error somewhere, email the kitten and let me know.