A new academic study suggests that simply thinking about different types of alcoholic drinks can influence a person’s mood and mindset, even when no alcohol is consumed.

The research, published in the journal Young Consumers, found that specific beverages tend to trigger distinct cultural associations in people’s minds. The findings indicate that drinks such as tequila, whiskey and wine are strongly linked to particular attitudes and emotional responses.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Logan Pant, an assistant professor of marketing at University of Evansville in the United States.

Pant said the project aimed to understand how people mentally associate different alcoholic beverages with social themes and personality traits.

“We conducted two preliminary studies to understand how people think about different types of alcohol,” Pant told Associated Press. “In the first study, participants answered open-ended questions, and in the second they completed a word-association task.”

In total, the research involved four experiments with 429 participants. The early stages of the project helped researchers identify what they described as “learned associations,” or ideas that people develop through cultural exposure and personal experience.

Participants were asked to think about a randomly assigned drink and then rate how strongly they felt certain personality traits or emotional qualities. Importantly, the participants did not consume alcohol during the experiments, allowing researchers to examine psychological associations without the physical effects of drinking.

The study grouped responses into three main mindsets. The “party mindset” included terms such as energetic, outgoing, fun and celebratory. The “masculinity mindset” was linked with words such as strong, confident and tough. The “sophisticated mindset” included qualities like elegant, classy, refined and formal.

Researchers found clear patterns in the results. Tequila was most frequently connected with celebration, excitement and social gatherings. Whiskey tended to be associated with masculinity, strength and confidence. Wine, on the other hand, was linked to sophistication, elegance and refinement.

Pant said the results suggest alcoholic drinks can act as symbolic cues that trigger particular psychological responses.

“These findings show that alcohol can function as a symbolic cue,” he said, noting that the attitudes people associate with certain drinks appear to come from cultural learning rather than intoxication.

Public health experts say the findings are important because they highlight how social expectations and cultural messages can shape attitudes toward alcohol, especially among younger generations.

Although many people consume alcohol for social or recreational reasons, excessive drinking can lead to health problems including Alcohol use disorder and an increased risk of several cancers.

Previous research has already shown that alcohol consumption can affect behaviour, making people more uninhibited or more likely to take risks. The new study focuses instead on how cultural cues linked to alcohol may influence thoughts and expectations before any drinking occurs.

Researchers say understanding these psychological associations could help inform public health campaigns aimed at promoting moderation and responsible drinking. Such efforts often encourage people to pace their drinks, stay hydrated and avoid excessive consumption.

Pant said future research could explore how these associations vary across cultures, age groups and social environments, and whether targeted interventions could help shift perceptions around alcohol toward safer behaviours.

Scientists in Granada have developed experimental corneal implants made from fish scales, a discovery that could help address the global shortage of donor corneas used in eye transplants.

The research, led by scientists at the University of Granada, focuses on transforming scales from commonly consumed fish such as Common carp into transparent and durable implants capable of repairing damaged corneas. Early laboratory tests and animal studies have produced encouraging results, according to the research team.

The project has been carried out by specialists from the university’s Department of Histology, who have spent several years studying fish scales that are normally discarded as waste in seafood markets.

Researchers say the structure of fish scales makes them a promising material for biomedical use. After processing and treatment, the scales can be converted into a biocompatible implant that is transparent and strong enough to function as a replacement for the cornea.

The cornea is the clear outer layer at the front of the eye and plays a key role in focusing vision. When the cornea becomes severely damaged due to injury or disease, the only effective treatment in many cases is a corneal transplant using donated tissue.

However, specialists say donor corneas are in short supply around the world. Many patients spend months or years on waiting lists, while others never receive a transplant due to the limited availability of suitable donor tissue.

Scientists at the University of Granada believe the new technique could offer an alternative solution if further testing confirms its effectiveness.

The study has been funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, which operates under Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. The research is part of project PI23/00335, which aims to explore new biomaterials for medical treatments.

The findings were presented in the presence of Manuel Reyes, manager of the Hospital Clínico San Cecilio in Granada. His participation highlights the growing interest from the medical community in the potential clinical use of the technology.

So far, the implants have successfully passed initial laboratory analysis and early tests in animals. These experiments were designed to confirm that the material is compatible with living tissue and capable of maintaining the structure required for a functioning cornea.

Despite the promising results, researchers caution that the technology is still in an early stage. Before the implants can be used in patients, the project must undergo extensive clinical trials in humans, a process that can take several years and requires strict regulatory approval.

For now, the study demonstrates that carp scales can be processed into a material that behaves similarly to a natural cornea at both structural and biological levels.

While the concept is not yet ready for use in operating rooms, scientists say the results represent an important step toward finding new ways to treat corneal damage in a field where donor shortages remain a major challenge.