Among young adults, alcohol-induced blackout are linked to more harmful consequences

MedicalXpress | juil. 14, 2026

Young adults who experienced alcohol-induced blackouts (AIBs) reported more alcohol-related consequences than they did when they drank similar amounts without blacking out, according to a new study. AIBs involve a period of amnesia while the person is conscious and interacting; they may not remember what happened. AIBs are linked to consequences ranging from embarrassment and hangovers to sexual risk and developing alcohol use disorder. Among college students with recent AIBs, one in three drinking days involves this type of blackout—perhaps in part because young adults often do not perceive AIBs negatively. For the study in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research, investigators explored the role of social context (who people drink with) and location (where they drink) in the alcohol-related consequences of AIBs.