Most people indicated that they could consent to sex (93%) and their friend could consent to sex (87%) in a recent study that examined the extent to which alcohol consumption affected perceptions of one’s own and one’s friend’s ability to consent to sexual activity. Researchers surveyed 160 adult bar-goers in pairs about their own and their friends’ alcohol consumption, intoxication symptoms, and ability to consent to sexual activity. They found:

• On average, participants reported consuming 4.97 drinks, rated themselves at the legal limit for driving, reported 1 intoxication symptom, and had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) just >.08.
• However, few thought they or their friend had diminished cognitive function.
• Accordingly, number of drinks people reported consuming, self-reported intoxication levels and symptoms, and BACs were significantly correlated; however, none of these measures was significantly related to individuals’ perceptions of their own or their friends’ ability to consent to sexual activity.
• Finally, those in man-man pairs were significantly more likely than those in woman-woman pairs to indicate they would allow their friend to have sex if approached by an interested party.