Australians drink heavily before a date as they think alcohol gives them that extra confidence, a new study said.
The British came second in this rating where alcohol is an essential arsenal in finding a partner, according to the annual "Romance Report" by British publisher Harlequin.
The report said 80 per cent of Australian men and 70 per cent of women drank heavily before their dates to try to impress possible partners.
The survey polled 1,500 men and women in 16 countries.
The report, released on Wednesday, ahead of Valentine's Day on Feb 14, also found that Australians rated intelligence as less attractive than looks, humour or confidence.
However, a sense of humour was more appealing to the Australians surveyed than financial status - a trend reflected worldwide.
In France, Brazil, Italy and Spain, physical appearance was listed as a respondents' top priority during a first encounter.