Is there any truth to the idea that you are less likely to get
a hangover with “good” (expensive) wine and spirits, and more
likely to get a hangover with cheap drinks?
I’m excluding from the question homebrew or illegally produced alcohol, just commercial products of various prices.
I’ve already heard that dehydration is a major factor in hangovers. Any cites for this? Is it the sole factor, or just a major one?
Yes.
More expensive alcohols are made from pure grains and are multiply distilled, filtered, and made in smaller batches with more attention to quality control. Thus, less toxins and impurities find their way into the final product.
Cheap alcohols are made from less expensive starting ingredients (poorer grade grains, maybe with other stuff mixed in, or sugars added to enhance fermentation) and steps are skipped in processing that eliminate impurities, improve taste, etc.
You can taste the difference. Try a shot of Stoli Silver or Gray Goose, and then take a slug of Kamchatka…
Also, clear liquors like vodka and gin have many fewer kinds of impurities than colored ones like whiskeys and tequila. So, folk wisdom says for a lessened hangover, stick with the clear liquors. The only colored liquors I’ve consumed that didn’t leave me with an unpleasant hangover were Single Malt Scotches. But then, I’ve never gotten severely drunk on these, since my taste runs to stuff that’s $40 a bottle, at discount.
Actually, I’ve always regarded the “clear liqours/expensive liquors” thing as a myth. I have been drunk many times on a wide variety of types of liquor.
Dehydration is the main factor in a hangover. Electrolite imbalance is also a major contributor.
I got absolutely bombed on margaritas once, drank a whole lotta water before going to bed and, no hangover. Margarita mixes are fairly high in sugar, the rim of the glass is salted, which helps with the electrolytes, so, add enough water to prevent dehydration, and you won’t get a hangover. Another good way to prevent hangovers is to toss back a glass of water between alcoholic drinks.
Incidentally, Gatorade is great for a hangover, just don’t slam back a 20 ouncer all at once. Introduce your stomach to it slowly. I’ve also gotten rid of more than one hangover by filling a big glass with water and adding a half-teaspoon of sugar and a little bit of salt, drinking it (not too fast, your stomach is a bit sensitive). A couple of glasses of this, and a hangover goes away pretty fast.
For your drinking pleasure:
I’ve never tried this stuff, but those I know who have, looked like they got beat up.
The impurities in alcoholic beverages are called congeners. The professor who taught the Alcoholism class (in the Psychology department)at one of the universities I attended said hangovers are caused by congeners.
I have never heard of an “Alcoholism” class. I thought people were self-taught or home-schooled.