Forget hair of the dog or the inevitable morning-after pizza order. In the 21st-century, the world's great minds have science'd the shit out of the humble hangover. But, do these next-gen cure-alls live up to the hype? We got dusty AF to put them to the test. Bottom's up!
IV Drips
As showcased on the Showtime hit Billions, getting stuck with a needle is the Rolls Royce solution when you've had a gut-load of grog. The science is sound: hangovers are caused by dehydration and a depletion of electrolytes, and an IV (that's an intravenous drip if you want to get technical) is pretty much the fastest way to get those precious liquids into your ailing bod. Once upon a time, such luxurious services were reserved for the mega-rich, but good news Joe Blow, a bunch of IV clinics have popped up on the high street in recent years, bringing the IV revolution to the masses.
Verdict:
There's a bit of a paradox hanging over this hangover cure. This is a procedure that requires trained practitioners, and thus needs to be pre-booked, so this is really only an option for those of us willing to forward plan our poor life choices. The procedure itself is straight forward enough, but the result isn't as miraculous as it's often promised to be, and with a price-tag that can run into the hundreds, it's a pretty pricey way to recover.
Magic Pills
Health fads aren't usually marketed to heavy boozers, but recent buzz around a common health food supplement has caught the attention of those looking to avoid those hangover blues. Activated charcoal has many reputed benefits, including whitening teeth, improving IBS symptoms and reducing joint pain. But who cares about that - it's what it does to a belly of beers that really impresses. This little black pill has the power to trap toxins and chemicals, carrying these nasties out of the body. It's been in use for years in emergency medicine to treat poisonings and overdoses, so taking care of that last round of Sambucas you just necked is a walk in the park for this miracle drug.
Verdict:
By jingo, this is the real deal people… well, sort of. Some of the symptoms of a raging hangover, such as headaches and nausea - those associated with the toxic qualities of alcohol - are easily dealt with. But those symptoms associated with dehydration and lack of sleep, such as dry-mouth, lethargy and loss of concentration, are still going to be an issue. So make sure you drink plenty of fluids, of the non-alcoholic variety, if you want to truly pull up the next day feeling fresh as a daisy.
Pre-Booze Protectors
As some annoyingly smug bastard once said, failing to plan is planning to fail. And indeed, a little thinking ahead can save you from a world of pain where a hangover is concerned. There's a range of different products on the market that claim to be the perfect wingman for a night out on the lash. These work by either giving you a super-dose of the electrolytes your hijinks are going to rob your body of, or by removing some of the bad shit hiding in your favourite tipple, such as wine drops that remove sulphides and other preservatives.
Verdict:
We put the top-rated products on the market — Hydrodol and Pure Wine anti-sulphide drops — to the test, and the results were very favourable. However, these products, while not bank-breaking, are not all that cheap either. Given that the jury is out on whether sulphides are really all that hangover inducing, and that coconut water is an equally well credentialed yet cheaper source of electrolytes, you may want to consider if investing in specialist products is really value for money.
