Millions of drunken revellers know it instinctively: beer and a curry is a perfect combination.

But researchers say it may be a little too perfect, after discovering that people who like spicy food are more likely to have alcohol problems.

In a series of experiments, Sung-Gon Kim, a psychiatry professor from Busan National University in South Korea, has found the link between spicy food and alcohol comes down to the way both stimulate our brain's reward systems.

Professor Kim found that not only are people who are dependent on alcohol more likely to enjoy eating spicy food, but that medication to treat alcohol problems is more effective in people who prefer a bit of spice with their meals.

He said both spicy food and alcohol stimulate the opioid receptors in the brain, triggering the release of naturally occurring endorphins.