Enjoying a few cocktails with your friends is a great way to wrap up a long week. However, without the right precautions, you can experience headaches, nausea, fatigue, and other hangover symptoms the next day. Along with pacing yourself, take the following steps to minimize your risk of getting a hangover.

How to Prevent a Hangover After Drinking

1. Choose the Right Cocktails

Congeners are chemical byproducts of sugar-fermenting yeast in alcohol, and can increase the likelihood of hangovers.

While many alcoholic products are fermented and contain these byproducts, they typically exist in greater quantities in dark-colored liquids, such as whiskey, cognac, dark beer, and red wine. Limit your intake of these throughout the night and opt for cocktails with clear or light-colored bases, such as vodka, gin, and rum.

2. Stay Hydrated

Alcohol is a diuretic, so it increases your risk of dehydration. When your body is dehydrated, you’re more likely to experience headaches, fatigue, and dry mouth.

To minimize the risk of these side effects, drink a glass of water for each alcoholic beverage you consume and have another full glass before going to bed.

3. Eat Nutritious Foods

Having low blood sugar can exacerbate hangover symptoms. Eating breakfast or a late-night snack after drinking will increase your blood sugar levels, decreasing the severity of headaches.

Choose foods that are easy to digest and contain vitamins and minerals. For example, eggs help the body produce antioxidants that break down alcohol in the metabolism, while oatmeal slowly releases sugar into the bloodstream, increasing blood sugar.

4. Get a Good Night’s Rest

After a night of drinking, it’s especially important to get eight hours of sleep. Lack of rest doesn’t directly cause a hangover, but it can make your fatigue worse the next day. 

Alcohol can compromise sleep quality and duration, so put your phone on silent before going to bed to minimize distractions and plan to sleep in if possible.

If you crave a delicious cocktail, stop by The Goat House Pub in Wentzville, MO. This bar is known for its extensive drink selection, upbeat music, and personable staff. Whether you want to try their famous specialty drinks or a craft beer, you will find an option you love. They also provide fun outdoor activities to make your night memorable. Call (636) 206-6367 to ask about the beers they have on tap, or visit their website to explore their offerings.