Much like drinking itself, learning bogus myths about alcohol is a traditional rite of passage. The older you get, the more you realize that all of those “tricks” to prevent a hangover just don’t seem to work. Save yourself a few headaches in the morning and find out the truth behind these common — and totally wrong — supposed cures.
Beer Before Liquor, Never Been Sicker
Despite the cute rhyme scheme, this old advice — along with its counterpart, liquor then beer, you’re in the clear — isn’t going to do anything to prevent you from getting drunk, getting sick, or having a hangover the next day.
What’s more important is how much you drink, not the order in which you drink it. No matter how you put it in, five beers and and five shots of vodka is going to take a toll.
The Hair Of The Dog That Bit You
The history of this phrase should be enough to clue you in to how ridiculous this myth is. It comes from an old Medieval belief that you could heal a rabid dog bite by rubbing it with the fur of that animal.
Likewise, a beer in the morning isn’t going to undo all of those beers you had last night. The cause of your headache in the morning more likely stems from dehydration, so stick with water or sports drinks to help replenish your body and brain the next day.
Coffee And A Cold Shower
Some people mistakenly believe that coffee, a stimulant, and a cold shower — which is just plain cruel — will help sober you up more quickly.
These things might make you more alert temporarily, but they won’t do anything to change your blood alcohol content levels immediately.
Instead, you just have a hyper, wet, and still-drunk person on your hands.