There are a lot of things you might think about before going on a first date: What should you wear? Where should you eat? Who should pay the bill?
Drinking and dating go hand-in-hand, but it seems that a surprising amount of singletons are relying on getting boozey before hitting the bedroom.
New research has revealed that 46% of guys choose to knock back a tipple before a hook-up.
Recovery First surveyed 500 people to find out what kind of role alcohol plays in their love lives.
And almost half of men and a third of women (36%) admitted they start hitting the bottle before going on a date.
This is surprising considering that alcohol has been known to hinder a guy’s performance in the bedroom and even lead to erectile dysfunction.
The surprisingly common condition, which actually affects half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70, is when a guy can’t get or maintain a hard enough erection for penetrative sex.
It can affect anyone, either as a one-off or reoccurring problem.
Dr Adam Simon, chief medical officer at Push Doctor, told the Daily Express about how alcohol consumption can cause impotence.
He said: “There’s no set amount of alcohol that will affect your sexual performance, as not everyone responds to alcohol in the same way.
“However, do remember that there are many reasons why we’re advised not to drink more than 14 units a week.”
The medic continued: “Drinking more than this amount – which roughly equates to around six glasses of wine or six pints of beer – can cause sex and fertility issues for both men and women.
“Men may experience erectile problems, either by failing to get an erection or failing to maintain it long enough to actually have sex.
“Normally, your blood vessels open to allow blood flow to the penis, then close again to stop blood from leaving it.
“When you drink too much, the body can’t complete this second step, so the blood doesn’t stay where it’s needed.”
