# Is it possible to "not hold water well"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-not-hold-water-well/464400>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 20, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-not-hold-water-well/464400 "2008-09-20T03:35:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wfudan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/41988e/32.png) [@wfudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wfudan)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-not-hold-water-well/464400/1 "2008-09-20T03:35:16Z")

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I’ve noticed that I’m just as hungover when I drink only alcohol as I am when I drink an equivalent amount of water while drinking alcohol. I also drink a lot of water when not partaking in adult beverages, but I suspect that is due to the amount of time I spend outside in the sun. I think that is irrelevant, but full disclosure and what not…

So the question: Is it possible that my body just doesn’t retain water well? Do diuretics have a stronger effect on me than most people? Do I just need more water than most people? As you can tell, this one is pretty open ended… why does the water I drink not help negate the effects of the alcohol I drink?

ETA: Fixed poor wording.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-not-hold-water-well/464400/2 "2008-09-20T05:08:32Z")

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If you drink X amount of alcohol, that amount is circulating throughout your bloodstream, including your brain, whether or not it’s diluted. Water may slow down the effect, but it can’t negate it.

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**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-not-hold-water-well/464400/3 "2008-09-20T05:24:01Z")

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> [@panache45](#):
>
> If you drink X amount of alcohol, that amount is circulating throughout your bloodstream, including your brain, whether or not it’s diluted. Water may slow down the effect, but it can’t negate it.

I think the idea is that hangovers are often attributed to dehydration, caused by the diuretic consequences of alcohol, rather than as a direct, intrinsic effect of alcohol itself.