[Colin Murray]

Colin Murray asked the Naked Scientists:

Hello,

Is there any evidence that drinking wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages
while eating reduces the incidence or severity of food poisoning?

Thanks,
Colin

What do you think?

[Bored chemist]

I doubt it would work. A lot of food poisoning is caused by decay products that the bacteria have already made before the food is eaten. However it's not an unreasonable idea- very few bacteria will live in beer or wine. If you soaked all your food in alcohol you would sterilise it.
Of course, there's the slight problem that the alcohol would kill you in the end.

It's a good excuse to have a beer though.
Cheers!