A new study has found Queenslanders either overestimate or underestimate their intoxication levels.
Researcher Dominique De Andrade, from the University of Queensland and Deakin University, said the findings were concerning.
"Drinkers that go out to late-night precincts in Queensland are pretty bad at estimating their blood alcohol concentration levels," she said.
"It is of particular concern when we look at those that underestimate.
"We saw those that have low blood alcohol levels are more likely to overestimate and those with high blood alcohol levels are more likely to underestimate," she said.
Researchers from the University of Queensland, and Deakin University, collected data from 2,100 people in Queensland nightclubs across Fortitude Valley and West End in Brisbane, Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, and Cairns in the Far North.
The study surveyed people aged between 18 to 31 on the streets around small to medium-sized bars and popular tourist destinations.
"We used breathalyser devices to analyse the relationship between a person's actual blood alcohol content and their estimated blood alcohol content," Dr De Andrade said.
She said the study suggested that those who overestimated may not understand how their bodies metabolise alcohol.
"Interestingly, those who were sober or slightly intoxicated were more likely to overestimate their blood alcohol content," she said.
"This suggests people who consumed a limited number of drinks over the course of the night may have vastly underestimated the rate at which their body metabolised the alcohol."
Dr De Andrade said the best at accurately estimating their blood alcohol levels were those who were moderately intoxicated.
"That's likely because we've had decades of campaigns around drunk driving and what the levels of drinking should be," she said.
"One standard drink per hour, for example, and how that relates to 0.05.
"I think a lot of people were using that as a benchmark to try and estimate their blood alcohol level," she said.
Dr De Andrade said the study also aimed to understand whether inaccurate estimates were associated with harm, asking people about "their experiences of harm and behaviours that they engage in, in and around entertainment precincts".
"There is probably not enough education around blood alcohol concentration, how that relates to standard drinks and also what the physiological and behavioural cues are for people that relate to their level of drunkenness," she said.
"The researchers found people who underestimated their blood alcohol content were significantly more likely to have been recently removed from a licensed premises," she said.
"While drinking alcohol is part of the experience when attending night-time entertainment precincts, alcohol-related harms place an immense yet preventable burden on patrons, the economy and health-care system," she said.
The holiday season
Dr De Andrade recommended people keep an eye on how many drinks they consume to avoid overestimating and underestimating during the "silly season".
"As we head into the holiday season, it's important people are aware of the impacts of drinking alcohol, especially drinking too much alcohol," she said.
"Also, being aware of the alcohol content in the drinks that you are having. One drink does not necessarily mean one standard drink."
Associate Professor Jason Ferris from UQ's Centre for Health Services Research said there needed to be more awareness of how alcohol is metabolised in the body.
"This research highlights that people are still unaware of the rate of alcohol metabolism and how alcohol is affecting their bodies," Dr Ferris said.
"As well as the person drinking, this also affects other people in the nightlife environment, including venue staff and emergency services who have to interact with them."
