NA Health: The New Year's Eve Alcohol Myths and Helpful Hints

As the New Year’s Eve Celebration nears, let’s discuss something really important: "The Hangover"

The first and most important point is that all hangovers are preventable: Avoid alcohol and you are guaranteed not to have a hangover.

But for those of us who feel like celebrating and imbibing in the spirits during our New Year’s Eve celebrations, there are the realities behind “common cures” and remedies.

Theory #1

Drink the next day:

Hangovers are triggered when the blood-alcohol level begins to drop a few hours after you finish drinking. Symptoms peak when the level nears zero. We know you can prevent “DT’s” by providing a continuous source of alcohol, but sooner or later, the symptoms will come back when no more alcohol is in the system.

Gradually tapering the alcohol dose as well as staying hydrated during the weaning process can help. This theory is similar to the medieval practice of treating bite wounds with the fur of the offending dog (the hair-of-the-dog approach). Does it work? It can temporarily and you may be able to diminish the symptoms a little; but it will not likely eliminate all of the alcohol withdraw feelings.

Theory #2

Have a grease-fest

The thinking here is that greasy food eaten before bed or the next day soaks up alcohol. Does it work? Only if you eat before drinking or as you are drinking. When you eat, the body has to digest and metabolize the meal. Fatty meals compete with the alcohol for metabolization in the liver and alcohol may enter the bloodstream more slowly. This potentially may cause the alcohol level to rise slower and to peak at a lower level.

Theory #3

Try a hangover potion

There are many potions and pills sold online, in stores, and even in bars that claim to soak up the toxic byproducts of alcohol or to help your body fight alcohol’s bad effects. Most of these contain activated charcoal (a carbon source that binds to many chemicals and prevents absorption) or a mix of vitamins and herbs. These are sold under creative names like “Chaser”, “Drinkin’ Mate”, “NoHang”, and so on.

Do they work? There are limited studies on these products so it’s hard to say, but in some small studies funded by the products, the ones which lists “activated calcium carbonate and charcoal” as ingredients, was better than a placebo at improving 7 hangover symptoms.

Theoretically, these products may help diminish absorption of the alcohol and therefore prevent blood alcohol levels from reaching the same point as they would have without their use.

What really helps?

The key points to remember are the following:

Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach.

Drink lots of water or other nonalcoholic liquids while you’re drinking alcohol and afterward to maintain your hydration status. Alcohol is a diuretic and will cause you to become dehydrated quicker exacerbating the hangover symptoms.

Take aspirin or ibuprofen to ease a headache if your stomach can handle it.

And note that dark liquors such as whiskey and red wine are more apt to leave you hung over than colorless or lighter drinks because of higher levels of congeners, which are the substances produced during fermentation and can have toxic effects by themselves.