How to Drink – Musings on the Art of Drinking Alcohol by a Retired “Drunkard”

HOW TO DRINK (AND NEVER HAVE A HANGOVER)

Musings on the Art of Drinking Alcohol by a Retired “Drunkard”

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

HANGOVER – “MORNING-AFTER” THE “NIGHT-BEFORE”

A Hangover is a terrible experience. 

You wake up in the morning with a throbbing headache.

You feel a disgusting nausea.

You may even throw-up and vomit.

Your mouth becomes dry due to dehydration.

Your whole body aches.

You feel dizzy.

Sometimes your hands tremble – and you experience the “shakes” (Delirium Tremens or DT).  

You curse yourself for drinking so much at the party the previous night. 

You know that – the more you “enjoy” on the “night-before” – the more miserable you feel on the “morning-after”. 

A hangover is the worst way to ruin your Sunday morning after your weekend partying. 

But – despite this terrible experience – you repeat the same binge-drinking at the next party – and you land up suffering a hangover on the morning-after. 

Drink – Hangover – Drink – Hangover...

It is a vicious cycle – that seems to become the rule with your partying. 

But – how do you stop this vicious circle of drinking and hangover...?

Your friends tell you about so-called “cures” for a hangover – like the “hair of the dog” – and so many other mythical cures.

But soon you realize that nothing works for a terrible hangover.

The only thing you can do is suffer in silence – and “sleep out” the hangover.

There is a saying: 

“Prevention is Better than Cure” 

This applies to hangovers too. 

How do you prevent a hangover...?

The sure-shot way to avoid a hangover is to stop drinking alcohol and become a strict teetotaller.

But obviously – you don’t want to do that.

How can you give up all your enjoyment and your partying – how can you give up your social life...? 

You want to enjoy drinking alcohol – but you also want to ensure that you do not get a hangover the next morning.    

The aim of drinking alcohol is to feel good. 

If I ask you: “Why do you drink...?”

You will say: “I drink because I want to “feel good”...”.

So – whenever you drink – you must drink enough to raise your spirits and feel good. 

There is no point in drinking for the sake of appearances.

Why drink so little alcohol – that you do not feel anything...?

Yes – you must drink enough to feel good – but you must also make sure you don’t get a hangover next morning. 

Hangover – Prevention is Better than Cure

HOW TO PREVENT A HANGOVER

You want to drink alcohol.

But – you want to avoid a hangover.

So – how do you drink in such a way as to avoid a hangover...?

Is there a way where you can enjoy your drinks – yet prevent a hangover on the “morning after”...?  

Yes – there is a way.

It is simple. 

Just follow these 2 simple steps to prevent a hangover: 

1. DRINK ONE GLASS OF WATER BEFORE YOUR FIRST DRINK

and 

2. DRINK ONE GLASS OF WATER AFTER YOUR LAST DRINK 

Before you have your first drink – have a glass of water. 

The glass of water will help you cool down in case you are physically/mentally stressed. 

Also – the water will re-hydrate you in case you are deydrated.

Then – start drinking.

It is a good idea to have plenty of snacks while drinking – yes – snack heavily while drinking – meat based snacks – barbequed meats – tandoori chicken – kebabs – fish fingers are the best. 

After your drinking session is over – have a nice cool glass of water.

Then – proceed for having your dinner.

Do not drink alcohol during your meal. 

Do not drink alcohol after your meal. 

Yes – you must avoid drinking any type of alcoholic beverages while eating your main meal.

Even wines are best avoided if you want to prevent hangover. 

If you feel thirsty while having your meal – you can always drink water.

After your dinner – make sure you eat dessert or pudding – especially a milk-based dessert like ice cream. 

Then – end your meal with a glass of water.

Never have after-dinner drinks like liqueurs or brandy – if you have had alcoholic drinks before dinner.

In case you are fond of liqueurs – do enjoy them after a relaxed meal which has not been preceded or accompanied by alcohol.  

One more tip. 

During your drinking session – if you ever feel tipsy – all you have to do is to just interrupt your drinking – and have a glass of cold water. 

Then – once you feel okay – you can resume your drinking. 

If you still experience tipsiness – keep drinking cold water till your drunkenness disappears – and you feel good again. 

Remember:

The aim of drinking alcohol is not to get drunk

The aim of drinking is to feel “Nice”.

HOW TO CHOOSE WHICH LIQUOR TO DRINK AT THE TIME OF THE DAY 

A Hangover not only depends on the amount of alcohol you drink – but – even the type of alcohol you drink matters.

Your alcoholic drink must match the “colour” of the day.

Look at the sky on top of you at the time of the day – and choose your booze accordingly.

Yes – you must – DRINK AS PER THE COLOUR OF THE DAY – as we say in the Navy.

In the mornings – it is best to drink light coloured liquor like like Vodka, Gin, White Rum, Coconut Feni etc 

(When we were in the Navy – it was rumored that a redoubtable “Sea-Dog” even brushed his teeth with Vodka)

As the day progresses – and – the afternoon approaches – drinks like beer and bright cocktails are suitable. 

As the sun goes down – and – the evening approaches – you will relish “Blended Whisky” with plenty of bubbly Soda in the evening – as a “Sundowner” – with the setting sun in the twilight.

As the night darkens – there is nothing to beat dark Rum. 

You can drink your Rum “on the rocks” – or with water – as “Rum-Paani”.

Avoid combinations like Rum and Coke. 

If you prefer Whisky – slowly sip neat “Single-Malt Whisky” at room temperature – to get you into a mellow mood.

And – if you like the taste of good Brandy – you may like to savour a drink of neat rich Brandy at night. 

Whenever I indulged in serious drinking – I always drank my whisky or rum with plenty of water – and – I avoided cocktails – unless it was just to taste the cocktail – yes – if you like – do drink cocktails for taste – not for the “feel good” effect of alcohol.

And – yes – I always avoided drinking “down-the-hatch” shots. 

I will advise you to avoid “shots” and binge drinking.

Also – you must never “down-the-hatch” your glass – or gulp your drink in a hurry. 

If you are drinking a rich brandy or single-malt whisky – always drink it neat.

Drink unhurriedly.

Take a small sip – close your eyes – roll the liquor on your tongue in a relaxed manner – till the liquid is absorbed by itself.

Never gulp your drink – or swallow booze “down-the-hatch”.

Savour every sip – till the alcohol is absorbed within you – and you will relish the feeling as the alcohol slowly warms your insides and elevates your spirits

Remember the saying: 

मज़ा लेना है पीने का – तो – कम कम – धीरे धीरे – पी  

(If you want to enjoy drinking – drink small sips – and drink slowly)

HANGOVER-FREE DRINKING

Try this technique the next time you drink:

Have a Glass of Cold Water before your First Peg 

and 

Remember to have a Glass of Cold Water after your Last Drink

This is a sure-fire way to “feel good” on the “night-before” – but avoid a hangover on the “morning after”. 

Breathtaking in its simplicity – isn’t it...? 

It is my experience that this – “one-glass-of-water-before – and – one-glass-of-water-after” – “two glasses of water” technique works – you can take my word for it.

Try this – and you will never have a hangover again.

So – if you must drink – enjoy the experience and make sure you feel good.

But – make sure that you prevent that excruciating hangover.

Cheers … !!! 

Enjoy your drinking and have hangover-free mornings ... !!! 

VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

1. These are my personal views based on my personal experience. This may or may not work for you. Please do your own due diligence while selecting a hangover prevention technique.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

This is an abridged, upgraded and revised version of my post (Part 5) in my HOW TO DRINK ALCOHOL (ART OF DRINKING) series written be me Vikram Karve 6 years ago in the year 2010 and posted online earlier in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/10/how-to-drink-alcohol-part-5-how-to.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/06/how-not-to-get-drunk-yet-feel-nice.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/07/hangover-how-to-drink-alcohol-yet-avoid.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/hangover-prevention-is-better-than-cure.html etc