Drinking Booze Without the Day-After Hangover

Hangover

Hangover

Alcohol is often a significant component of many parties. If not careful, too much booze will result in dizziness, nausea, and headache, which are symptomatic of a hangover.

The primary method of avoiding a feeling awful the day-after is to abstain. If that seems impossible, then knowledge about safe consumption is essential.

Understanding Safe Consumption Varients

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) variants include gender, age, physical condition, the amount of food consumed and when, use of certain medications. Another factor to consider is the percentage of alcohol in a drink. Men can safely consume more than a woman.

One should know the laws regarding legal limits in their city or state. If a driver is pulled over for suspected driving under the influence (DUI) and blow 0.08 percent or higher on a breathalyzer will be arrested. Whereas, a commercial drivers’ rate is cut by half. With that percentage on board, it is likely that person will suffer a hangover in a drunk tank.

The BAC charts on WebMD are based on the size of container or type of beverage. “One drink is equal to 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of regular beer, or 5 oz. of table wine,” according to Ashraf Al, MD.

If a 160-pound man consumes one drink, his approximate BAC is 0.02, but a woman at the same weight will have a BAC of 0.03. It is important to note that impairment begins with the first drink and anything above 0.00 percent could result in an arrest.

Hangover Cure Myths

There are numerous ways to treat a hangover. Many of them are myths. Here are a few of the most common fictitious methods:

  • Drinking lots of water,
  • Choosing beer as the only booze for the night,
  • Paying big bucks for high-shelf alcohol,
  • Either drinking beer before liquor or vice versa,
  • Consuming carbs while imbibing,
  • Sticking to cocktails that are not sweet,
  • Vomiting when finished drinking,
  • Drinking coffee,
  • And consuming greasy breakfast food,
  • Drinking alcohol, again. Otherwise known as, the hair of the dog.
  • Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever before going to bed,
  • Downing a supposed hangover pill,
  • Drinking frequently to keep up resistance to hangovers,
  • Hunkering down beneath the bedding for the day,
  • Or drinking pickle juice.

The Mayo Clinic reports:

While the prairie oyster cocktail, consisting of raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, tomato juice, vinegar, hot sauce, salt and ground black pepper, has long been touted as a homemade hangover cure there is little evidence to suggest that it actually works.

Tips for Avoiding a Hangover

The only guarantee for avoiding a hangover is abstaining. Another way is to nurse one alcoholic beverage through the night.

If not, WHAS11 an ABC affiliate reports drinking water before, during, and after the party may reduce the severity of a splitting head, nausea, and dizziness. Furthermore, refrain from consuming more than one alcoholic beverage per hour.

Another suggestion is to eat a good meal before drinking. Alone this cannot guarantee the aftereffects of partying, but it will slow down the absorption of alcohol in the body.

Knowing when to say no more can be a challenge. Learning how much can be consumed, based on weight and number of drinks will help.

For more information about consumption versus intoxication, Google the term alcohol impairment charts.

By Cathy Milne

Sources:

CBS News: There’s no magic cure for a New Year’s hangover, but these tips may help
WHAS-11 ABC News: How to prevent and treat a New Year’s Eve hangover
WebMD; On Health: Alcohol Impairment Chart
Cosmopolitan Magazine: 15 Hangover Cures That Don’t Actually Work

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Katie Cowden’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Share:

Send Us A Message