Hangovers – Real Ale versus Red Wine
Unfortunately if you like alcohol, hangovers are part of the deal. I prefer drinking real ale, especially ‘session’ beers with an alcoholic strength of around 3.7%. These beers are weak enough to avoid bad hangovers, (unless you consume vast quantities of course)!
Recently my brother arranged a ‘Risk and Rioja’ night at his house; Playing the Waddington’s board game Risk, while drinking Spanish red wine. We had a few pints of Timothy Taylor Landlord bitter first which was really lovely, then we hit the red wine.
Tony had everything well organised with a gaming table all set up and a bottle of Rioja for each of us. The game went well when I formed an alliance with my brother to take over the world. Unfortunately he broke the alliance at a crucial moment, which resulted in us BOTH losing! 
The wine tasted nice, but when I examined the bottle it had an alcoholic strength of 12.5%! The consequence next day was inevitable, a headache and a queasy sick feeling. As a drinker I accept headaches as a price worth paying, but the queasy stomach was a new unpleasant experience.
My brother however seemed right as rain. He confirmed that he didn’t have a hangover and felt fine. It was at this moment he revealed his cunning plan. He gave everyone their own personal bottle of Rioja, however his own bottle had been filled with Vimto!
I had to admire the ingenuity of his idea, and the preparation it entailed, but the experience has confirmed one thing – wine is not for me, it’s far too strong.
Marathon Runner, Drinker and Artist, Blogging for Pleasure and Profit.
Oh dear, John! I assume you’ve heard about the new beer just brewed that has some ridiculously high acohol strength? Watch out for that one then!
Is this the brother who is an extremely successful ice cream logo designer and seller by any chance?
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
It's the same brother Mandy - he's full of good ideas. No problem with the extra strong beer, which normally has a ridiculous 'funny' name - I already know they are too strong for me - I want to walk home unaided.
John[Reply]
Drink beer is also one of my habits. Maybe I could give you some advice to lessen the hangover you might feel on the next day after drinking lot of alcohol. First, eat before you drink. Beers have high acid so if you don’t have anything in your stomach before you drink you would really feel some problems in your stomach. Second, drink lot of water after drinking beer or any alcoholic drinks. This can wash down the excess alcohol in you and might lessen the hangover on the next day.
Cheers
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John McNally
Reply:
November 16th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Thanks for the advice Rommel. I always eat before I drink, and I used to always drink water (squash) afterwards.
Unfortunately I have got out of the habit of drinking water, and must start again. I always used to leave a pint of water on my table before I went out, then when I arrived home drunk I would see it and be reminded to drink it.
I’m relying on drinking weaker beer to avoid hangovers now.
John
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I have two main mottos:
1. Avoid hangovers – stay drunk.
2. Drink is the enemy – Love thine enemy.
If you want a reason to drink, check out the following poster from 1919 at http://www.donmaisey.com/images/lips.jpg.
Don
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John McNally
Reply:
November 16th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
I looked at your link Don, and had to reach for a pint straight away.
My mate uses your number 1 theory, he doesn’t sober up, on weekends anyway. I usually get hammered on Fridays, then have a few recovery pints Saturday, and maybe a few more on Sunday. The trouble with this system is that I often drink on weekdays as well.
It was my wife who drove me to drink anyway, It’s the only thing I’m grateful to her for.
John
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