Phenylthiocarbamide and its chemically-related compound, 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), provide an extremely bitter taste to some individuals (super tasters; ST), a slightly bitter taste to some (medium tasters; MT) or no taste at all to others (non-tasters; NT)⁽Reference Bartoshuk, Duffy and Miller¹⁾. Studies suggest FP densities vary between taster groups, with ST having greater numbers of FP than NT on the anterior of their tongue⁽Reference Essicka, Chopra and Guest²⁾. ST are therefore more likely to experience greater bitter oral sensations from bitter-tasting foods and drinks, e.g. alcohol, compared with NT. Studies have also linked alcohol intake to PROP taster status⁽Reference Duffy, Davidson and Kidd³⁾.

The present study aims to examine whether PROP taster status is related to alcohol intake in a group of Irish adults. The data were collected as part of a larger on-going project examining PROP taster status and its effect on fruit and vegetable intake. In the study ninety-four adults (seventy-one females and twenty-three males) were recruited from the Dublin area. Alcohol intakes were assessed through diet histories and analysed using WISP© (Tinuviel Software, Llanfechell, Anglesey, UK). PROP taster status was established using PROP-impregnated paper discs and general labelled magnitude scales (gLMS) as previously described⁽Reference Fast, Green and Bartoshuk⁴⁾. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA; ANOVA (post hoc) and correlation).

No significant differences were found for mean daily alcohol intake in adults when assessed using the PROP ratings from the gLMS, or when PROP ratings on the gLMS were converted to PROP-taster groups according to cut-off points previously described⁽Reference Zhao, Kirkmeyer and Tepper⁵⁾ (P=0.091 and R² −0.155 respectively). No significant differences were observed for alcohol intake and FP density across the three groups (R ² 0.0012).

Figure. Values are means and standard deviations represented by vertical bars.

Mean daily alcohol intake was higher, although not significantly, in ST than NT. This finding is not in agreement with results from previous studies that suggest that ST experience heightened irritation from, and a lowered preference to, the bitter taste of wines and beers and therefore consume less alcoholic beverages⁽Reference Fast, Green and Bartoshuk⁴⁾. However, it is known that alcohol intake is related to more than taste, and can also be associated with low socio-economic status, stress and many other factors⁽Reference Drommer, Schrijvers and Stronks⁶⁾. An individual's ability to taste also diminishes with age; therefore, adults may not react in the same way to adverse taste⁽Reference Moiet, Chris-Hazelhof and Heidema⁷⁾. Thus, PROP taster status and FP density are unsuitable predictors of alcohol intake.