How To Party All Day, Avoid A Hangover And Still Enjoy Tomorrow
After more than two decades covering bars, festivals, beach parties and nightlife around the world, I’ve learned what works – and what doesn’t – when for surviving a fun summer day and night.. These are the tips I actually use.
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Nightlife Blogger
I know. I’ve been there.
The sun is out, the music is good, the girls are flirting and that “one drink” turns into one after another. Before long, the plan for being cautious and calm has blown away like an empty plastic cup rolling around on the barroom floor.
That’s all great—until you’re too ripped to follow the crowd to the next party or wake up the following morning uttering the dreaded words, “I’ll never drink again!” After more than two decades covering bars, festivals and nightlife around the world, here are the tips I actually use for daytime drinking, preventing a hangover and recovering on the mornings when I don’t follow my own advice.
For reference, here are places and events where alcohol consumption is most prevalent during the summer
- vacations
- sporting events
- festivals and all-day concerts
- beach bars
- dive bars
- lakes and rivers
Pre-Party: Steps To Hangover Prevention
These are my rules for summertime drinking. Keep in mind that day drinking is a big part of the summertime party. I eat a good meal first, start slowly and then pick up my pace, limit doing shots, force myself to drink a few cups of water if I’m feeling too buzzed too early and don’t take part in a lot of drinking games IF I know I’ll be out later.
This is planning ahead but I also strongly believe in living in the moment. Too often, I have held back only to regret it later because I didn’t let loose during the most fun time of the day when it presented itself to me.
1.) Eat First
The best way to last a long time drinking is to eat a good, filling meal before you start partying.Make it something hearty, too, like a burger, sandwich with thick bread or a big, meaty omelette with potatoes. The latter helps to “soak up” some of the alcohol that you will later absorb.
2.) Ease Into Your Drinking Pace
Sip your first couple of beers or cocktails. If you are pounding from the start, you’re going to get drunk really fast. Build up to your drinking peak.
3.) Pick Your Spots For When To Do Shots
Careful, this is the fastest way to put yourself on the way to a hangover. It’s like a long touchdown pass – it will get you there in a hurry. It’s better to treat shots as a long, time-sustaining drive.
4.) Mix In Water With Your Alcohol
While this is far easier said than done because once you get drinking momentum, you don’t want to let it go, but it’s critical to avoiding a hangover. When you first feel yourself getting a buzz, then down at least two glasses of water. Later, when you are buzzed, have two more glasses. And before going to bed, drink more water.
5.) Limit Drinking Games
Things like Flip Cup are fun and social, but they will also set you on your way to getting hammered, and that’s a good way to get a hangover. If you do play, then don’t make it all afternoon; just a few games should be sufficient to satisfy your thirst, to to speak, for this type of activity.
6.) Treat The Day As A Marathon, Not A Sprint
Summers can involve drinking for several hours, to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint.
To recap:
- Eat Beforehand
- Pace Yourself
- Careful With The Shots!
- Hydrate
- Careful Of Drinking Games Like Flip Cup
- Treat It Like A Marathon Not A Sprint
The Day-After Hangover Cures
Well, you did not follow the above rules. You’re in bed under the covers and don’t want to even think about moving for the next several hours. You feel like crap. So what do you do to perk up a bit? Here’s a few simple suggestions:
1.) Eat Bananas
Yes, bananas. The potassium in them is good for hangovers. It may take two of three of them but you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel after about half an hour. I always keep bananas in the kitchen when I know I’m going out for a big day or night of drinking. It’s saved me many times.
2.) Drink Water
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You can’t get enough of water. Sodas are not good, tho they can settle a stomach that’s jumping around like a loose football. Coffee? Hey, it worse for some people.
3.) Eat
Either stuff yourself or get some food in your stomach, however much you can, well, stomach. Potatoes are particularly good for hangovers.
4.) Rest
Yes, you can sleep off a hangover. Even after getting up, lie down and rest as much as possible throughout the day.
Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and nightlife expert who has covered destinations, events and nightlife for more than two decades. While working as a newspaper reporter, he received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism.
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