This caipirinha'll go down slower without a straw.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
1. If you go out drinking and haven't had dinner, pick up a slice of pepperoni pizza. Protein, fat and carbs slow alcohol absorption and will give you an energy boost for the big night out.
COLLECT A DRINK
2. The first drink goes down the fastest, so start with water or stomach-soothing ginger ale.
3. Most house-specialty cocktails contain several types of alcohol.
Order off-menu instead, and choose a one-alcohol, one-mixer drink
like a gin and tonic: It's simpler and likely less strong. But
watch out for too many carbonated mixers, because they speed up
alcohol absorption.
MOVE BACK ONE
4. Pick-me-up mixers are a bad idea. Caffeine dehydrates, and the
energy boost might make you less aware of a buzz.
DO NOT COLLECT A STRAW
5. You're likely to drink faster through a straw than directly
from the glass. Sip, don't suck.
TIME OUT
6. Pause for a session of bogarting
the bar nuts. That's more protein-rich food to delay
tipsiness.
DOUBLE FOR A DOLLAR MORE?
7. Avoid it. It may be cheaper now, but you'll pay for it
later. Use that dollar to upgrade to better brands of alcohol—they
tend to have fewer hangover-inducing impurities.
TRIVIA
8. Despite the old mantra of "liquor before beer means
you're in the clear," the order of your drinks doesn't
affect your hangovers.
9. Light beer has less alcohol. Sip yours slowly until the pitcher
is empty to avoid too many refills.
YOUR TURN?
10. This round's on you? Sneak in a mocktail: Ask for
equal parts grapefruit juice and ginger ale over ice, topped with 5
or 10 dashes of Angostura bitters and a lime.
DO NOT COLLECT A HAMBURGER
11. While a meal before bed likely won't increase a hangover,
it won't do much to prevent it. Eat before you go out, not
after.
GAME OVER
12. Throw back a glass of water when you get home, but save the
pain reliever for the morning—it'll wear off before you wake
up.
YOU WIN!
Photography by James Baigrie
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