Liquor Lifestyle

Follow Us On Facebook

Follow Us On Twitter

Is the saying "Beer before liquor, never sicker, liquor before beer, never fear" physiologically accurate?

Allyson

Santa Barbara, California

Dear Allyson:

    No. Portland's Willamette Week interviewed a nutrition expert and a pharmacologist; both nixed the theory. They astutely note that mixing different types of alcohol is generally a bad idea.

    The reasoning behind the proverb is that it's easier on your body to absorb weaker alcoholic drinks, like beer, later in the evening. This probably holds some merit. It's also true that your body tends to process alcohol from carbonated drinks faster. But any piece of advice regarding alcohol consumption that contains the line "never fear" is obviously pretty suspect.

    Hangovers are thought to be exacerbated by congeners, which are the chemical compounds responsible for the taste and color of various types of alcohol. Darker drinks, like whiskies and red wines, tend to have more congeners. So, lighter-colored drinks like white wine, vodka, and gin could help those eager to avoid a headache.

    But drink enough of anything and you'll be hurting. Try drinking plenty of water before and after you get up, and throw down some vitamins, including C, E, and a milk-thistle supplement.