How to avoid a hangover on New Year's Eve: tips for drinking alcohol

It's hard to imagine New Year's holidays without champagne and other alcohol. Even people who drink very little try to make a wish with a sip of sparkling wine. But in the morning, the celebration can result in headaches. How to avoid a hangover? What to eat and drink to alleviate its symptoms in the morning?

Medical News Today has compiled 9 scientifically proven tips to help you feel good on the morning of January 1. All of these recommendations have been tested by scientists and approved as effective.

Drink in moderation

As you might guess, the only truly reliable way to avoid a hangover is to not drink at all. However, moderate alcohol consumption can also save your head from morning suffering. But different people have different ideas about moderation. That's why the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention has developed universal average norms. For men, this is two servings of alcohol per day, for women, it is one serving.

What is one serving of alcohol? In terms of popular drinks, it is:

• 0.3 liters of beer
• 150 ml of wine;
• 40 ml of a strong 40-degree drink.

Drink with water

Among its other properties, alcohol is a diuretic, which means it leads to dehydration. Hence the morning hangover thirst. So, don't forget to drink water between toasts. It's also a good idea to drink a glass of water before going to bed.

Get a good night's sleep

Alcohol can negatively affect both the quality and duration of sleep. Therefore, after a party, it is better to plan the next day in such a way that you can get a good night's sleep. For example, get up late. Or maybe even take a nap during the day. Going to bed earlier the next day is also a good idea.

Avoid congeners

Congeners are by-products that occur during the production of alcohol, such as fusel oils, methanol, tannins, aldehydes, etc. On the one hand, they give drinks different flavors and aromas, and on the other hand, they worsen hangover symptoms.

Drinks with a high content of congeners are:

• whiskey, especially bourbon
• cognac
• tequila.

The following are characterized by a low content of such substances:

• vodka
• rum
• gin.

Take nutritional supplements

Some experts believe that some of the symptoms of a hangover are the result of mild inflammation in the body. Thus, some people may benefit from taking supplements made from herbs with anti-inflammatory properties, such as red ginseng and prickly pear. For much the same reason, it is recommended to relieve these symptoms with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen.

Take your time

Science has confirmed that people who drink alcohol slowly and in small doses, stretching one glass of drink for the whole evening, suffer from hangovers less often. On average, the human body processes alcohol at the rate of one drink (see above) per hour. So it's better not to exceed it so as not to accumulate the effect. In addition, drinking slowly, you will drink less in general.

Measure the amount you drink

The tricky thing about cocktails is that you can't realize exactly how much and what you've drunk. That's why it's safer to drink clean drinks. In addition, when drinking at home, people tend to pour themselves more generous portions. So try to keep track of the amount you drink.

Eat before drinking

Drinking on an empty stomach will be absorbed into the bloodstream faster. So eat before you take your first drink. Or at least start eating and drinking at the same time. Food helps to reduce the concentration of alcohol in the blood and alleviate the effects of a hangover.

Eat after drinking

Low blood sugar can make a hangover worse the morning after a party. Therefore, it is better not to skip breakfast on January 1. Indulge in carbohydrates, such as your favorite cereal, add a spoonful of honey, eat an egg or two, and don't forget about fiber as it will help absorb the remaining alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract.

Additional tips

Do not combine alcohol with carbonated drinks. Carbon dioxide bubbles accelerate the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

Avoid taking medications, energy drinks, and coffee with alcohol. Coffee and energy drinks increase blood pressure and can make you feel sick from drinking, and a cocktail of drugs and alcohol can lead to unpredictable negative consequences.

Do not treat a hangover with alcohol as this increases the burden on the body and only worsens the health consequences.

In no case should you drive after drinking.

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