Pick Your Poison: Is There A Wiser Way To Drink?

By drodriguez Dec 24, 2009

Before you make that toast this holiday season, you may want to think about what's in your glass and how it will make you feel in the morning. New reports are coming out that show which types of liquor are more likely to give you a hangover the next day. One thing to keep in mind it seems is, the darker the liquor, the bigger the hangover according to an article from CNN.

The study, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, reveals the brown spirits like whiskey and rum warrant the worst side effects the next day, probably due to the fact that they contain more of a substance called congeners. Congeners are used in alcohol production for color and taste but can also directly effect a person's cell function which can be felt in the form of a stomachache or headache in the morning.

The study's participants were given either Wild Turkey bourbon or Absolut vodka, both of which have about the same amount of alcohol content. The people who drank the bourbon were more likely to report the effects of a hangover the next day. What researchers also found, however, was that regardless of whether they drank bourbon or vodka they were all about 2 percent slower on a series of performance tests the next day.

It may not sound like much, but head author of the study Damaris Rohsenhow, tells CNN, "That could make a difference if they have to respond to a situation in a car, or if they're running a conveyor belt in a factory and they're slower to react to a situation wheresomething's going wrong." It is estimated that hangovers cost the U.S. $148 billion in lost productivity in the workplace each year.

Though the best advice for avoiding a hangover is to not drink at all, if you do have a couple of drinks while celebrating this year, there are some things you can do to lessen your chances of suffering in the morning. John Brick, author of The Doctor's Hangover Handbook, advises that you should drink as much water as is comfortable before going to bed and to intersperse drinks of water while consuming alcohol. Also, drinking Gatorade or some other type of sports drink in the morning will help replenish vitamins and fluids you lost the night before.

What do you think of the recent study regarding hangovers?

Will the study's findings have an effect on what you pour in your glass this year?

Make a Comment

Comments

by waternymff | parma, OH

Jan 27, 2010

why to study hangover or smth but not to tell people that alcohol simply kills us? physically, mentally..children born with all kind of health problems - just because parent want have 'fun'..that's 1 example, but i'm strongly against alcohol!

by laidoff | Evergreen Park, IL

Jan 22, 2010

I drink water before I drink beer (Amstel Light) and Gatorade the next morning and I'm good all day long........

by PrettyLights | Oneida, WI

Jan 12, 2010

I usually drink gin and tonic with a lime or white wines. I rarely get a hangover from wines and only do from gin if I drink 4 or 5 drinks instead of my usual 2-3

by braydensmom | sterling heights, MI

Jan 06, 2010

I learned all of that the hard way. Bacardi w/Diet (water and vitamins before bed) or Dos Equis (anti hangover beer!) :o)

by fajaer | HOPEWELL, NY

Jan 05, 2010

I think as you get older your body become less and less tolerant of alcohol. I just can't drink the way I did in my 20's! I get sick pretty easily from all types of alchol now adays.

by lilrika | Akron, OH

Jan 04, 2010

I love my vodka! But I do have a bottle of water in the other hand!!

by lovelifelisa | STRUTHERS, OH

Jan 01, 2010

I drank only 1 glass of wine and a glass of champagne last night and I felt a little sick this morning but I think its from all the rich food as well.But I steer clear of whiskey and all other hard liquor as my stomach couldn't handle that at all.

by misskelly | GLENWOOD, MN

Dec 30, 2009

I think the info here is true. I am finding, especially as I get older, that certain drinks leave me with a hangover even when drank in moderation (2-3 drinks). I could drink more of another type of drink and feel fine the next day. Also, some drinks and certain wines give me migraines WHILE drinking them, so I avoid those also.

by wspr2008 | Madison, OH

Dec 30, 2009

I think the best answer is don't drink, but if your going to, drink in moderation where you are never out of control. And don't drink and drive.

by celiahumphrey | UNION CITY, GA

Dec 29, 2009

I think my way is the wisest, I DON'T DRINK!

by Alyssarae92293 | BOYNTON BEACH, FL

Dec 29, 2009

I AGREE WITH MINTAKA... I THINK AS YOU GET OLDER THE DRINKING HABITS COME OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM...AS LONG AS YOUR NOT ADDICTED

by PaulaSuzz | KENOSHA, WI

Dec 28, 2009

I suffer from chronic migraine headaches. Years ago, I discovered that I could drink a bit (2-3 drinks) Vodka (clear) without getting a migraine. I seldom drink anymore because I can't drink without getting a migraine (even 1-2 drinks) any longer.

by mintaka | LAKE VILLA, IL

Dec 27, 2009

The older I get the less I drink, but it's still good to have this information.

by divaskyxoxo | New York, NY

Dec 26, 2009

In moderation but also have a couple friends of yours with you, that way they can monitor you. That way just in case they can stop you from drinking too much or if you have already gotten past that point, they can take care of you.

by msfriendly | MONROE, WI

Dec 26, 2009

Use moderation and common sense.