Approximately 30 minutes after arrival the participant completed various subjective and objective baseline measures and then consumed their allocated beverage. The beverage consisted of a mixture of the appropriate amount of 190-proof ethanol, water, grape flavored drink mix, and a sucralose-based sugar substitute based upon body weight (women received a 15% smaller dose adjustment to account for differences in body water). The beverages were served in two equal parts in clear, plastic cups with lids and straws to help reduce olfactory cues and consumed within a 15 minute period (5 minutes for each portion with a 5 minute rest in between) in the presence of the research assistant who engaged the participant in light conversation. The study employed the Alternative Substance Paradigm (Conrad et al., 2012) in which minimized expectancy by informing the participant that they would be drinking a beverage that would contain a stimulant, sedative, alcohol, placebo, or a combination of two substances. The participant then completed study measures at 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after the initiation of beverage consumption and BrAC was collected at each time point.
