I'm planning a big night. Any hangover tips?
Andrea T. emailed us at asktheexpert@sweetspot.ca ; and Bartender, Kevin Bellemare, answered:
The first way to avoid a hangover is very, very important: AVOID DRAFT BEER. This is a well-known rule, yet many people still try to get away with it. Trust me; drink your beer from a bottle.
For non-beer drinkers try to avoid sugars, they’ll leave you dehydrated (which means a headache in the morning). Stay away from mixed drinks with pop, juice, or Red Bull etc. If you can’t stick with soda water or water-mixes all night, at least throw in a couple as “alternatives” to your vodka/ cranberry, etc.
Classics are classic for a reason and the “classic” hangover remedy is to hydrate as much as you can during the night. Have a few glasses of water throughout the night and when you get home, have some more.
Lastly, eating something will help soak up some of the booze. A sandwich, pizza, fast food or basically anything you can find at 3am will help do the trick (but try to avoid street meat at all costs).
Obviously the best way to avoid a hangover would be to stay off the booze altogether. But what is a life lived without a couple of crazy nights?
Kevin Bellemare has bartended in and around Toronto for 9 years. Currently he bartends at Octapus Lounge, where he's worked for 5 years. Octapus Lounge, 293 Palmerston Ave, 416-929-7214