scumble on 15/3/2006 at 13:41
I refer to the exact amount of alcohol required to attain a state of pleasant inebriation without going past the "limit", where any further consumption will likely result in feeling somewhat under the weather when the sun rises again.
I seem to keep misjudging things lately and wake up with slightly impaired walking ability and a brain that doesn't work very well. No actual headache but very little will get done at work in the morning.
I can often (after a crap day) get away with drinking a bit more than one whole bottle of red wine and a bit of Jack Daniel's, and I won't actually feel too bad in the morning. Other times much less drink will have me spending half the day as a zombie.
Am I not managing my hydration levels properly? Am I in fact just a terrible drunkard? Have I got a really bad drinking schedule?
Most likely the simple answer is "drink less you fool", I'm just getting a bit older (they say having kids ages you a lot) and my body hasn't got the enthusiasm any more.
I may be looking for a quantity-independent signal that I've Had Too Much. So, any advice on avoiding mild hangovers? :eww:
Some way short of "stop drinking" hopefully?
Shug on 15/3/2006 at 13:51
Space your drinks with water if you're really keen. Apparently berocca is good, haven't gotten any confirmation on that but the theory is it replaces primarily vitamin B (which is flushed from your system during heavy drinking).
Other than that avoid commitments in the morning YEEEAAHAHHHH
Ajare on 15/3/2006 at 14:11
The 'pleasant state of inebriation' is highly subjective to the individual, there's no quick formula for it. The main problem is that while alcohol stimulates dopamine and other 'pleasure' neurotransmitters, it only does this for a relatively short time, so the 'buzz' wears off quicker than the other, negative effects. The result is that you find yourself drinking quicker than is safe in order to keep feeling good - and at a certain limit the negative effects will swamp the positive ones, and it'll be too late.
Eat a fatty-ish meal before you drink, to trap the alcohol in your stomach, where it is less easily absorbed into the bloodstream. Don't ever drink after taking aspirin, because it inhibits the enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) that breaks ethanol down.
With regards to getting older, men's alcohol dehydrogenase levels actually start decreasing around middle age (whereas women's actually increase post-menopause), so time is not on your side. :(
With regards to drinking 'properly', your body processes alcohol at about one unit per hour, so if you drink quicker than that, you will technically have a hangover. Of course, if you only have two pints in that time it's hardly going to be noticeable.
Drinking water inbetween drinks is as mentioned a good idea, and in fact it is possible to avoid a hangover by doing so. The drawback is that you need to drink two pints of it for every unit of alcohol, so if you drink a lot of booze you're likely to die of over-hydration.
If you do find yourself with a hangover, there's not much you can do about it, but stay off anything with caffeine (diuretic), or do anything else that would dehydrate you (like exercise).
ignatios on 15/3/2006 at 14:22
The best way I've found is just to pay attention to your body, scumble. Only through trial and error did I figure out how to drink to a pleasant "buzz" without being hung over in the morning.
I also generally drink water (two glasses) before going to bed, more if I have time between drinking and sleeping. Keeping yourself well hydrated is the key; you'll eventually figure out the right amounts of alcohol vs water.
scumble on 15/3/2006 at 14:39
That's probably it, not drinking much water. In general I probably don't get enough water into my system, especially with the amount of coffee and tea I drink. One is supposed to drink a certain amount each day and I suspect I'm way below that.
Naartjie on 15/3/2006 at 15:41
Water's good, especially before bed. I sometimes leave a bottle on my pillow if it's going to be a heavy night. Also watch what you mix. If you're used to drinking the same thing regularly (like your red wine) then you might find you seem better able to recover overnight before you get up. Bad stuff happens when the red wine meets the Guinness, and once the vodka and whisky join in you're in deep shit :p
Shug on 15/3/2006 at 15:59
I pretty much end up drinking two and a half waterbottles full at about 3am in the morning, never find time during the night's activities to rehydrate :erm:
Para?noid on 15/3/2006 at 16:34
Scumble, it sounds like you're reaching a place where your tolerance of alcohol goes up but your bodily response remains the same. So whilst it takes more to get you to that state of pleasant inebriation, you are giving yourself more punishment.
I suffer from it greatly since it takes quite a bit to get me flying. Just drink lots of water.
Shoshin on 15/3/2006 at 17:04
Drink 32 ounces of Gatorade or Pedialyte before going to bed. You'll piss a lot, but it'll all be worth it in the morning.
Ulukai on 15/3/2006 at 18:52
Not if you piss in the bed, it won't.
