Ten female faces were produced graphically using custom developed software to decrease and increase age, representing sexually immature and mature faces. The study found that young females are typically vie as being older than they actually are, but having consumed even large amounts of alcohol does not lead a man to think they look even older. The researchers surveyed 240 people in bars and cafes and asked them to rate attractiveness of underage and mature females with and without makeup. Our study suggests that even heavy alcohol consumption does not interfere with age-perception tasks in men, so does not excuse apparent mistaken sex in cases of unlawful sex with a minor, the researchers said in a statement. Men can guess age of women if drinking British researchers demonstrated that consuming alcohol did not affect how men judged the age of women. The study, scheduled to be published in the British Journal of Psychology in June, also found that attractiveness ratings of minors -- immature faces -- were not affected by alcohol or make-up.

Vince Lanny of the University of Matthus School of Psychology and Giray Cordan of the University of Exeter say the study has important legal implications if alcohol is cited as a cause of impairing judgment in cases of unlawful sex with a minor.