No need to hold back on the Christmas cocktails this year – a little prep can go a long way to reducing your hangover and keeping you sharp for work the next day (it is the party season, after all)
For those that like to enjoy a drink every now and again, waking up with a fuzzy head and an upset stomach is a familiar feeling. Hangovers can make us feel sick, anxious and unproductive, and leave us searching for a remedy. There are certain methods you can take to prevent a hangover, so give these a try when you next head out for a bevvy or three . . .
Don’t drink on an empty stomach
This is one that you’ve likely heard before, but drinking on an empty stomach will leave you feeling rotten the next day, as alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream a lot quicker, and this has a massive effect on hangover symptoms. Eating a meal before you start drinking slows the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream, leaving you feeling a lot better the next day.
CHECK OUT unusual Christmas gifts for alcohol lovers
Christmas alcohol gift guide
1 of 33Tobermory Gin, RRP £37.85
Looking for a gin-spiring gift? This small-batch-distilled gin is made on the island of Mull and features locally-sourced botanicals including elderflower, tea and wild heather. It comes in a gorgeous gift box too. amazon.co.uk
2 of 33Gin Mare, RRP £31.45
If you need a really stylish bottle at your Christmas cocktail party, this is the one for you. It's beautifully presented, and the gin is created with olives, thyme, rosemary and basil, giving it a refreshingly different taste. amazon.co.uk
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3 of 33Cointreau limited edition Vincent Darré bottle, RRP £35
Cointreau screams Christmas to us, and this limited edition bottle designed by French interior designer Vincent Darré will add an extra touch of va va voom to your festive drinks cabinet. Harvey Nicols
4 of 33Jenkyn Place Rosé, RRP £13
Add some serious sophistication to your celebration with this English sparkling rosé. You heard. It's made in Hampshire in the traditional Champagne method and comes in a beautiful box, making it the ideal gift for the Real Housewife loving glamour puss in your family. hawkinsbros.co.uk
5 of 33Admiral's Old J Spiced Rum, RRP £14.99
This one's for the adventurous rum lover in your life: a five x 5cl rum set featuring fabulous flavours for the festive season. Cherry, gold, spiced, TIKI FIRE, we're up for 'em all hic. clickndrink.co.uk
6 of 33CUT Rum, RRP £22.50
Like your rum with a bit of history? This spiced spirit is the real deal: made on the award-winning Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica that's been in the rum business for hundreds of years. It tastes like crème brûlée, which is a big plus as far as we're concerned. amazon.co.uk
7 of 33Liverpool Valencian Orange Gin, RRP £42.95
You don't need to be a Scouser to get pleasantly soused on this gin with zesty, orange notes. It'll go down a treat in a festive Negroni. amazon.co.uk
8 of 33Calvet Réserve Red 2016 , RRP £9.39
Give your vegetarian and vegan friends a treat at Christmas with this beautiful red that has notes of gingerbread, caramel and black pepper. Guaranteed to slip down a treat with a nut roast. waitrose.com
9 of 33The Old Curiosity Distillery’s colour changing Christmas gin, RRP £35.95
Want to add a touch of wow to your festive drinks? This gin -spiced with cinnamon, ginger and cardamom and launched in partnership with Great British Bake Off finalist Ruby Bhogal - turns deep red when mixed with tonic. We love it. theoldcuriosity.co.uk
10 of 33Bolney Wine Estate English Rosso Vermouth, £19
Fancy something a little lighter this Christmas? Try pairing this delightful English vermouth with quality tonic for a refreshing festive tipple. bolneywineestate.com
11 of 33Calvet Menetou-Salon Sauvignon Blanc, RRP £14.99
Think you're bored of savvy-blanc? Think again. This fresh, appley, white wine is a sophisticated version of the drink we've almost loved to death. Best served pre-dinner so you can savour the, ahem, green highlights. waitrose.com
12 of 33Cranes cider gift set, £13.50
Evoke memories of summer days sat in the sunshine with this stylish cider gift set. It includes the full Cranes range: Blueberries & Apples; Cranberries & Limes and Raspberries & Pomegranates and comes with a glass too. Who said cider can't be classy?cranes.com
13 of 33Johnnie Walker, A Song of Fire and Ice Limited Edition Game of Thrones Whisky, RRP £34
The Game of Thrones obsessives in your life will be THRILLED with these limited edition bottles from Johnnie Walker. Choose from House Stark and House Targaryen or bundle up and get them both for £68. The ideal keepsake for your mantelpiece (read: shrine) after you're done, these are pretty special. amazon.co.uk
14 of 33Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka , RRP £31.86
If your main impression of vodka is Glen's, prepare to be dazzled. This boojie bottle of spirit has overtones of creamy vanilla and is so darned delicious we could drink it neat over ice.amazon.co.uk
15 of 33Baileys Chocolates Mini Delights, RRP £2
Frankly, is it even Christmas without a Baileys? These delightful Irish cream infused chocolates come in a resealable packet for some reason. As if you're going to stop before you've scoffed the whole bag...morrisons.com
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16 of 33Baileys Salted Caramel Liqueur, RRP £27.49 for 70cl
And if you fancy drinking Baileys rather than eating it (although you really don't have to choose), this salted caramel edition is LUSH. amazon.co.uk
17 of 33Wild Turkey Longbranch, RRP £36.95
Fancy a bourbon that's the choice of an Academy Award®-winning actor? Master Distiller Eddie Russell collaborated with none other than Matthew McConaughey - the brand's Creative Director - to create this exceptional drink. Get ready for an aroma of vanilla and spices, flavours of caramel, pear and hints of citrus with a buttery smooth finish. Divine (and totally brag-worthy)!thewhiskyexchange.com
18 of 33Personalised Johnnie Walker Whisky, from £30.25
Receiving a personalised gift at Christmas makes you feel rather special, especially if it's a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label. The whisky giant lets you print not just a name, but a photo and stickers too, on to one of their famous Walker whiskies. The perfect gift for a whisky lover. thewhiskyexchange.com
19 of 33Malibu Strawberry Spritz, RRP £9.50
Who cares if it's winter, the taste of summer never goes out of style. Malibu's Strawberry Spritz rum literally tastes like a sunbathing session on the beach, so if you have a BFF who loves a Marbz holiday, this is the one for them to take away the cold chill of winter. It's also the perfect price point for a Secret Santa gift, FYI. tesco.com
20 of 33Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Blend, RRP £38.00
This rum blend is the perfect rum to sip neat or mix in a cocktail. Made from hand-selected, rare golden rums which are all aged for a minimum of 12 years, it has a delicious flavour profile; combining fruity and cocoa notes with delicate molasses, vibrant citrus and hints of coffee, toasted oak and almond. This is Christmas in a bottle!amazon.co.uk
21 of 33Absolut Juice Edition Vodka, RRP £16
Vodka fans will be thrilled with this twist on the classic Absolut premium vodka. Brimming with flavour and freshness, it's perfect for the cocktail connoisseur in your life who loves to try something a little different, or with ice and soda water.amazon.co.uk
22 of 33Lyme Bay Winery fruit wine miniatures gift set - 5 x 5cl, RRP £19.99
Indulge your inner nanna (or your actual nanna) with these blast-from-the-past fruit wine miniatures, featuring elderberry, elderflower, blackberry, ginger and sloe. Yum!amazon.co.uk
23 of 33Pierre Ferrand 10 Generations Cognac, RRP £37.17
Get serious about your seasonal drinks offerings with this Grande Champagne Cognac. It's sweeter than the average Cognac but still allows you to fulfil your Bond-villain fantasies when swilled in a balloon glass. Best served with an evil laugh. masterofmalt.com
24 of 33Beer Hawk Christmas Selection Box, RRP £20
Get your Christmas craft (beer) on with this box. Contains five fit vegan beers, a signature glass, and a pair of novelty beer socks.beerhawk.co.uk
25 of 33i heart Champagne Didier Chopin, RRP £23
Christmas day (season?) deserves Champagne, and this one - with hints of honey fruits - comes at a very palatable price. Why not treat yourself as well as your loved ones?sainsburys.co.uk
26 of 33Alessandro Gallici Prosecco 50th Anniversary, £15.99, Laithwaites
Looking for a bottle with serious wow factor this festive season? This boujie bottle will take pride of place on your Christmas table and the fizz tastes divine too. Laithwaites
27 of 33Christmas Tide Gift Pack, £7.20
If the big guy in red in your house is a beer drinker, treat them to this special festive brew. There's warmth in this beer, making it a great winter drink, and it has a lush, chocolaty, malt base.Salcombe Brewery
28 of 33Andresen 10-year-old White Port NV, £14.99, Laithwaites
What's that you say? WHITE port? This delicious take on the Christmas fave is served chilled with ice, straight up or with tonic. Love. It. [Laithwaites](https://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/3722918/3722918)
29 of 33Craft Gin Club Christmas crackers, £39.99
These fancy crackers each contain 50ml craft gin, 150ml Franklin & Sons Natural Indian Tonic Water, a festive hat and joke. They'll really add to a CRACKING Christmas dinner. Craft Gin Club
30 of 33Xixarito Pedro Ximénez, £24.95
Think you know sherry? Think again. This extraordinary fortified wine is bursting with the flavour of figs, dates and even a hint of chocolate. We're big fans. Worsley Fine Wines
31 of 33Tomatin Whisky, RRP £41
If you're looking for a really special whisky this Christmas, look no further. This award winning spirit contains flavours of apples, pears and nuts. Best enjoyed in front of a roaring fire after a bracing walk (or not). amazon.co.uk
32 of 33Fili Prosecco NV, £14.99, Laithwaites
This pleasingly plump bottle contains a delicate fizz with a subtle apricot flavour that's very moreish. Laithwaites
33 of 33Champagne Delmotte Reserve NV, £19.99, Laithwaites
This double gold award winning bottle of bubbly holds its own against much pricier poos. We're big fans of its cheeky hint of peach. Laithwaites
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Opt for a lighter brew
You may have noticed that a red wine hangover is one of the most brutal, and there’s a reason for it. Darker drinks contain more ‘congeners’ (by-products of alcohol fermentation), and are responsible for the worst hangovers. Consider sticking to lighter coloured drinks and you might find your hangover is diminished.
Dried Fruit > Takeaway
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that end of the night takeaway is doing your body no favours; the food digests slowly and will leave you feeling bloated for much of the next day. Instead, give dried fruit a try; it contains fructose, which has been shown in some studies to increase the break-down of alcohol by as much as 80%, and could leave you feeling a lot sharper the following day.
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Pace Yourself
Your liver is only able to break down a certain amount of alcohol every hour, and drinking lots quickly causes alcohol to move around your body, damaging the cells it passes. Slow down your rate of drinking and you will feel a lot better the next day.
Try a supplement
There are a number of hangover remedies on the market which, although can’t be classed as total cures, can help significantly the morning after a heavy drinking session. For example, AfterDrink combines 25 potent vitamins, antioxidants and herbal extracts to leave you feeling fresher after a night out.
If you are regularly getting hangovers, it’s a sign that you are drinking too much and should you should consider cutting down.