Handling the holiday hangover

At this time of year, the end of year/beginning of new year celebrations are in full swing. For many, this can mean back-to-back partying, or, at the very least, making an appearance and raising a glass of bubbly during the toast.

The most dangerous are the parties where the drinks are paid for by someone else. It's hard to pass up a free drink or ten. And before you know it, your memories of this month (if you do actually remember it) are of feeling decidedly ill most of the time.

Here are 9 tips to help you get through the festive season drinking round feeling bright eyed and cheerful.

Pace the buzz.

If you get to that merry feeling too early in the evening, you're going to be ill later on.

Know your limits.

Keep a rough idea of how much you're drinking and try to alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.

Cue the top up.

Knowing how much you're consuming is especially difficult at functions where your drink is continuously topped up for you. Try to stay aware of your glass and notice when it is topped up. Count the topping up as the next drink, even if your glass was still quite full - so now is the time to grab a few mouthfuls of water or a soda.

Beware the dark side.

Darker alcoholic beverages contain higher levels of congeners, which are chemicals that can cause headaches and other hangover symptoms. Mixing even one dark drink in with your set can tip the balance, so steer clear of drinks like red wine, whiskey, bourbon, dark rum, etc.

Mixer tricks.

If you're nursing a hangover already, or you just don't want to drink too much but don't want to face the "Come on, just one drink!" jibes, use a mixer as a front. When getting your own drink, ask for tonic water, soda, lemonade, cola, or your favourite mixer on its own. When receiving a drink, allow the presumption that you're having gin and tonic, vodka and soda/lemonade, white rum and cola, or other alcoholic preference.

Eat well.

Food helps your body handle the alcohol better. But avoid greasy, fattening food that will stress your liver out even further. The ideal food to begin with is fruit, especially watermelon, strawberries, and kiwi fruit (high in useful anti-oxidants and vitamin C to help your body stay fighting fit) and yoghurt (replaces the good bacteria in your gut that the alcohol is killing). Follow this with some carbs, especially if it's the morning after.

Rehydrate.

Drink plenty of water during party season to rehydrate your body. Alcohol has a double-drying effect as it draws water out of your body in addition to replacing the fluids you would usually be drinking.

An aspirin a day.

Or night rather - taking aspirin before hitting the sack after a heavy night will lessen the effects of the hangover headache the next day. Aspirin thins the blood so it flows more easily through your sluggish post-party system, bringing much-needed oxygen to the right areas. Unfortunately, it doesn't work as well if you take it after the headache arrives, so remember to take it beforehand even if you're feeling fine.

But, if you're on any other medication, or have stomach problems, check with your doctor first before taking aspirin.

Be the designated driver.

If you decide you really do not want to drink, consider acting as the designated driver. This gives you a reminder and an excuse - you really cannot have "just one drink". And be strict. If you're driving, don't have anything alcoholic to drink. It is far too easy to go over the limit, for one thing, but few people actually realise how much even a small amount of alcohol impairs their driving.

How good a driver are you? You're not that good. Don't do it.

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