4 ways to prevent a hangover

How much should you drink?

There’s no set rule for how much you can drink and avoid a hangover, although of course the more you drink, the more likely you’ll get one, and the worse it’ll be. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto advises women to have no more than two standard drinks per day and nine per week. “These are low-risk, but not no-risk, guidelines,” says Wende Wood, a psychiatric pharmacist with CAMH. “They differ depending on the person. In general, women should drink less than men because we have a higher percentage of body fat versus water.” That means you’ll reach a higher blood-alcohol concentration than your male counterpart-even if you consume the same number of drinks.

Here are four simple strategies that you can try at your next get-together to keep a hangover at bay.

1. Eat before you drink

Food slows down the absorption of alcohol. Plus, you’ll feel fuller, and may drink at a slower pace.

2. Slow down

Don’t have more than one drink per hour. This is the maximum rate at which most people’s bodies can process alcohol.

3. Switch it up

Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (or water). You will stay hydrated and slow the pace at which the alcohol gets absorbed into your bloodstream.

4. Stick with light-coloured drinks

Think vodka, gin or white wine. Dark-coloured drinks such as rum, whisky and red wine contain chemicals called congeners, which are more likely to produce hangover symptoms.

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