Top tips to avoid a Hangover - nervous about drinking!

[pinklemonata]

I've got my works Christmas party tonight, lovely group I work with but they get legless at the Christmas do. Think falling off of chairs and crying type of drunk. I went for the first time last year but as I was new to the company I stayed fairly sober, now i'm not prude but I was shocked at how drunk most of them were so early in the Evening. There's a lot of pressure and they can be quite forceful with shots etc.. I haven't drank a drop in 4 Months and I already have the fear of a hangover with small children tomorrow! The obvious answer is not to drink so much, which I won't but I would like to be a little merry. Plenty of water throughout the night? Berruca before bed? Glass of milk before going out? Any tips would be greatly appreciated

Pace yourself on the drinks until you've eaten!

A good meal before you go out, plenty of water and paracetamol before bed.

Honestly I would just not drink too much, the hangovers really aren’t worth it.

Alternate alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Buy your own drinks so no one gets you doubles or triples without your knowledge. Make sure you've eaten well and had plenty of fluids before you go out. Drink a couple of pints of water before bed and take some Alka Seltzer.

Hydrate throughout today, lots of water.
Eat, then have some drinks til about 9, then stick to water or juice and you should be merry but no hangover.
This has worked last 2 times I have gone out.

Alternate booze with water, honestly they'll be so drunk they won't even notice what you're drinking.
People will assume its vodka or wine if you put it in the correct glass.
You can chuck a shot over your shoulder if you're standing up and most people won't notice.

Just don't let yourself be pressured into drinking more than you want.
Definitely have a non-alcoholic drink after each alcoholic drink.
And do not engage with the ah go on, just one more drink.
If you are ok with a face saving lie, say you need to drive later on.

You have the perfect excuse with young children tomorrow. You can also leave early, before the full on drinking begins.

Drink for the first hour or so then stop. Often I say I’m drinking G&Ts when it’s just lemonade, after a while every one is too pissed to notice. If you’re having a meal together, keep topping everyone else up, serving yourself last. Everyone then just assumes you’re drinking just as much. I avoid shots like the plague.

@Cuppaand2biscuits haha love the idea of throwing a shot over my shoulder! Knowing my luck it will go over the Boss 😅 Thinks so much for all the tips everyone, the do does include a meal which is good and I'm starting on the water already..!

Have 2 isotonic drinks ready in the fridge. One for before bed and one incase you still feel a little ropey in the morning.

Go and have fun, just keep aware of how you feel. Eat well, alternate alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Plenty of water too.

I have worked at a company with a drinking culture like this. I enjoy a social drink and like to be a little merry, but I would never get roaring drunk at a work event.

At Christmas I just used to have a few but refuse shots etc as "family coming early in morning for Christmas Day out" or similar if people kept pushing why I wasn't doing shots. Seemed more diplomatic than saying I don't want to join you all puking up the walls/falling down the stairs/leaving in an ambulance/puking, shitting or pissing a company paid cab home/graphically grinding on the dance floor/walking out of the toilets naked/trying to fight the CEO/being arrested/stealing the bosses car (some of the antics I have seen over the many years).

Deffo eat a proper meal before. Top up wine with soda water to make it last longer and limit the dehydration!

@loudbatperson what drinks do you mean by isotonic? Are they the still lucozade drinks I've seen in the shops!?

I was sober for 4 months this year and ditched it for my Xmas do last week. I had 2 ciders and about 4 baby Guinness shots. I was fun enough to join in the shots but just nursed my cider and had a pint of lemonade too. Worked perfectly.

@pinklemonata Yep stuff like that. You are looking for a drink to replace your electrolytes.

Just say you’ll still to wine/cider/vodka and coke and won’t be joining in with shots as you have small kids!

Have a rehydration sachet before bed and another in the morning. Eat before hand. Drink water between drinks. Pace yourself. I find I’m less hungover if I drink vodka mixers, singles with as much mixer as possible!

Mainly avoid the shots!
I find having a large lime and soda or orange juice and lemonade as a first drink is good. One, it's non alcoholic so helps with the hydration and two, it slows down the next drinks.

Definitely avoid shots.
I get awful hangovers when I drink more than a few these days.
I alternate water and alcohol for the first couple of hours which really seems to help, have a proper meal beforehand and drink a pint of water before bed and take a full one with you.

A cup of tea, biscuits and 2 ibuprofen before bed and I'm fine the next day 🍸

what everyone said plus don’t mix - stuck to gin and tonic or wine or whatever you fancy and continue with it .

Just be an adult and don't drink much if you don't want to drink much.....

Unfortunately for lots of people it's not the norm to not get smashed, even at a work do.

I've not been much of a drinker since I had my DC.

Own the fact you don't want to drink much. It needs to be OK!

It’s all in the preparation for me. Today you need to really hydrate, drink loads of water throughout the day. And eat plenty before you start drinking. I also find it helps to eat something before I go to bed as well.

I have a 2 drink limit and if anyone else has a problem with that it is their issue not mine

Just don't be pressured. This is one of the best things about getting older, you don't give a shit about all the peer pressure nonsense.