Recently started drinking... a bit lost

[tiery4]

So me and a couple of friends recently started drinking (we hadn't as it was culturally inappropriate).

However, as we are fairly new we have really bad hangovers which probably mean that we went over our limits. Enjoyed it though. I'm a happy drunk :/
I've got a little kid so obviously not great (happened twice). I still want to enjoy alcohol but don't want the hangovers and want to be nice and awake the next day. Is that even possible?

Soo my question is how do I know my limit?

I hate to say but it is trial and error really!

It also, for many, depends on what you drink, what time of the month it is, what you have eaten, what time, etc.

I fine wine and prosecco give me awful hangovers, I get drunk and feel horrible when I even think about drinking cider, but I can drink a fair few measures of clear spirits without a huge impact.

Sugary drinks make hangovers worse.

Make sure you drink water and take two ibuprofen before bed, and again as soon as you wake up.

Oh and mixing drinks is always a bad idea!!!

Oh really. We didn't know. We've been having vodka mixed with a fizzy drink and we made mojito last time. It felt good so we didn't want to stop that feeling so we kept having the same thing. In the morning we realised we had nearly two bottles of vodka amongst four people. The hangover was really bad for my friend. She also had cider

White wine is bad for headaches. Prosecco can be the same.

Clear spirits with a decent amount of mixer are best to avoid after effects and try not to mix drinks.

Take two paracetamol or ibuprofen before you start drinking and make sure you've eaten.

No wonder you had a hangover with half a bottle of voddy each! And cider on top...

Don’t get dehydrated. Don’t drink more than you need to be “Merry” . For me that’s not more than about 2 drinks. I respect my system and don’t want to overload it. Alcohol is a powerful poison.

I don't often suffer with hangovers, however when I get home for the night (if I'm out) or have finished with my alcohol I try to drink at least 1-2 litres of water, and eat something. I don't know if that's the reason I don't get them, but it's something my mum made me do when I started going out out (she always left them on the side for me before she went to bed) and it just stuck, and I've had maybe 4-5 hangovers in the last 10 years.

Haha, I can tell you from bitter experience that there's no way to avoid the hangover completely The best way to mitigate it IME is to drink a lot of water and/or squash before you go to bed, as it's largely caused by dehydration I think (it's too late if you drink water in the morning, but it will still help a bit). Also some people get worse hangovers from some types of alcohol than others, so maybe try some different drinks to see if it helps? I've heard red wine is terrible for a lot of people and vodka not so bad, but it varies between people.

Also btw, speaking as someone who hardly ever drinks, having a hangover doesn't necessarily mean you've gone over your limits. For someone who's never been drunk before, if you're not being sick you're probably fine! Just for reference though, 1-2 pints of beer or the equivalent is what I'd have if I was meeting friends for a casual catch up at the pub, and closer to 5 or 6 (spaced out) on a big night out where I'd expect to make a twat of myself and wake up feeling awful Obviously heavier drinkers can handle a lot more but as a newbie that's probably around the range you'd expect to be in.

Half a bottle of vodka though, that's hardcore!

Blimey - no wonder you had a bad hangover on half a bottle of vodka.

It’s trial and error - but dilute your spirits a bit more! Eat before hand and drink plenty of water.

Oh and don’t do it too often /

Enjoy. I am also a happy drunk and find the odd session v relaxing.

Hahah we didn't actually realise as we have a mixer amidst us and I think he over did the mixing!

We've been meeting up every 2 or 3 weeks but might reduce it as we are afraid we might get caught (I feel like a teenager lol)

Will definitely try some different drinks. Any recommendations are welcome

Eat a cucumber before bed 🛌

Make sure you’ve got care for the young sprouts if your drinking lots though. Two of my friends were drinking and her son fell on a glass. 30 stitches and she got in trouble. Always best to party when you’re child free!

I drink regularly and I would struggle the day after half a bottle of spirits. Alcohol is brilliant - until it isn't.

For me deciding my limit before I start. Writing it down might help. Measure each drink/round, don't pour free hand.

Eg, decide that between you, you aren't going to drink more than one bottle of spirits (700ml, not a litre) between 4. Use some sort of measure (an egg cup or similar can work if you don't have a shot glass). Have one shot each, with plenty of mixer (I don't find a fizzy mixer a problem) cola, lemonade or tonic. Tonic can make it 'feel' more alcoholic because it is sharp. Wait until you have all finished before the next round.

Making each drink special with slices of lemon, cherries or even slices of fruit, segments of orange or slices of cucumber.

Remember the aim isn't getting drunk, it is having a good time.