What to drink on New Year’s Eve to avoid a brutal hangover?

Even teetotallers crack open a glass or two on New Year’s Eve. But how do you sidestep waking up to a pounding headache on January 1st?

New Year’s Eve screams champagne pops, cheers, and wild parties. Then, come January 1st, the classic groan: Why does my head hurt so much? The good news? It’s not just about how much you drink—it’s about what. Choose your booze wisely, and you could dodge a savage hangover. No magic, just chemistry.

The Sneaky Culprit: Congeners

Hangovers are mostly fuelled by congeners—nasty compounds born during alcohol’s fermentation and distillation. They give drinks their flavour, colour, and personality, but they crank up headaches, nausea, and sleep woes in return.

Simple Rule of Thumb:
The darker the drink, the more congeners lurking inside.

These Booze Options Are Your New Year’s Eve Mates

Fancy a tipple on New Year’s Eve without rising like a zombie on the 1st? Go for these winners:

• Vodka – one of the purest spirits, super-low on congeners
• Gin – clear and relatively gentle
• Tequila – surprisingly tame in its pure form
• Beer – low congeners, though bloating’s another story

No wonder lighter hangovers often follow these picks.

Leave these on the shelf (or sip sparingly)

These heavy-hitters pack high congeners, so they’re more likely to bite back:

• Red wine
• Rum
• Brandy
• Sweet, dark liqueurs

Whisky and white wine sit in the middle—not the worst, but no safe bet either.

A big one for Hungary: pálinka

You might blurt out: “Clear pálinka means low congeners—bring it on!” But hold up—it’s not that straightforward. Pálinka-making brews up loads of aroma compounds, pumping up those congeners.

Slot pálinka alongside whisky and white wine in the mid-tier. And beware! Dodgy home-distilled stuff often has sketchy methods, meaning congeners could skyrocket beyond normal levels.

• Beware: Fireworks banned across most of Budapest on New Year’s Eve under stricter rules

Quality trumps quantity (for real)

Premium, multi-distilled drinks usually have fewer congeners than cheapo versions. That’s why bargain-basement booze often sparks epic headache marathons.

Smart mixing: what you chase it with matters

Fascinating research shows fruit-mixed drinks (think strawberries) can pack antioxidants. It won’t make booze healthy, but it’s smarter than sugar-bomb cocktails.

Bonus Tips:

• Dodge overly sugary mixers!
• Chug water between drinks!
• Don’t mix every booze under the sun in one night.

The ultimate truth

Booze type matters—a lot—but quantity’s still king of hangovers. The foolproof recipe for a pain-free New Year? Moderation. Or skip it entirely—who are we to judge?

Read also:

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Click to read more of our articles concerning New Year’s Eve in Hungary.