Beer Day Makes Icelanders More Attractive

Two topics here, one factual, the other a little more fuzzy (!)

Iceland has a thriving beer industry and the bar scene in Reykjavik reminded me very strongly of Wellington - cool bars with a large variety of local brews.

It wasn't always so, in fact it was only in 1989 that beer was allowed in Iceland, I know!

In Iceland, Beer Day (Icelandic: Bjórdagurinn) is celebrated every year on March 1, honoring the elimination of the 74-year prohibition of beer. Prohibition lasted from January 1, 1915 to March 1, 1989.

[source: Beer Day (Iceland)] 

They certainly get amongst it, I love this quote from Kormákur Geirharðsson (Ölstofan bar owner) in The Reykjavik Grapevine:

I remember a lot of drinking and a lot of pissing all night long and the next days, and it [was] not stopping. This was the day Icelanders took the step to try to become civilized. 

March 1st, not only is it St David's Day but it's also Icelandic Beer Day, love it.

So, all that beer has got to mean there's a lot of people in Reykjavik popping on the 'beer goggles' and waking up on March 2nd next to someone not quite as attractive as they thought, yes? No. Or yes.

The theory was that beer made ya pissed and our brains blurred people's faces meaning they looked more symmetrical than they actually are. Apparently having a symmetrical face means your more phwoaar.

But no, coz someone took time, money, and 99 people Debunking the Myth: Alcohol, Attraction, and the Illusive Beer Goggles Effect.

Or did they, the article ends:

“We don’t deny the existence of a “beer goggles” effect,” added Dr. Harvey.

“But we suspect it would be more easily detectable when using live models for an experiment, instead of static photographs. Images conceal a range of important visual criteria for attractiveness, including build, body shape, height, expression, and clothing."

No shit Sherlock! 

So maybe there's still hope for the ugly Icelandic people on March 1st.