You don’t have to be teetotal to avoid a hangover. Follow our wine expert's tips and drink your way to a clear head

It’s happened to us all. You open your eyes the morning after a heavy night and the pain in your head and stomach tells you that you drank too much. So was it too much of the wrong thing, or just too much, full stop?

Of course, the best cure for a hangover is not to drink in the first place. But short of being teetotal, here’s how you can help yourself.

Drink water
One of the main reasons for a hangover is dehydration. Therefore, if you drink at least as much water as wine, you’re off to a good start. Lots of water just before going to bed is also a good plan. Eating while drinking massively reduces the absorption of alcohol, and milk really does line the stomach.

Do particular drinks or wines make
it worse?
In essence, the answer to this is yes, but it varies from person to person. With wine, if people are particularly headache-prone, many will report that they suffer far worse headaches from red wines than white. This isn’t just anecdotal; there is a scientific reason - the headaches are caused by a reaction to certain chemical substances found in black grape skins. However, it doesn’t apply to everyone. Certain people are also particularly sensitive to sulphur dioxide, an anti-oxidising agent added to just about all wines in an attempt to keep them fresh. Whilst all wines sold within the EU have a regulated maximum sulphur level, organic wine producers tend to use reduced levels of sulphur; so you could argue that drinking organic wine is less likely to give you a hangover. Sulphur smells like bad eggs and will often make the bridge of your nose itch.

While all this sounds a bit technical, a general rule of thumb (not infallible) is that the more palatable the wine, the less likely the hangover, although quantities drunk obviously affect this rule. My experience suggests (sadly) that more expensive wines tend to be less hangover-inducing. So, if you have a choice, drink less of a better quality wine.

Mixing drinks
A sure way to worsen your hangover. Mixing grape and grain (i.e. wine and whisky or other spirits) is not a good idea. Port, which is naturally high in alcohol, always gets a bad press. But this is because people tend to blame their hangover on their final drink – often port – failing to mention the gin and tonic, champagne, white and red wine that preceded it.

Other factors
The rate at which one absorbs alcohol can depend massively on mood – increased adrenaline pushes alcohol through the system much faster. Therefore, feeling deeply depressed or ecstatically happy makes you drunk faster. Women have an added problem in that just before a period and at ovulation (i.e. every two weeks) the hormones in our bodies mean we absorb alcohol at an accelerated rate.

Great hangover cures

• Hair of the dog. Of course, a health consultant would not suggest this, but hey, sometimes it’s the only way. My preferred hangover cures are a simple Bucks Fizz (champagne with fresh orange juice), a Bloody Mary (tomato juice, vodka and spice), or a Black Velvet (half-and-half stout and champagne) to up your iron count.
• Sex. This really does work.
• Exercise. See above. Exercise helps you sweat the alcohol out of the system faster.
• Food. Complex carbohydrates such as bread and pasta will raise the blood sugar level. Other well-known cures are a fried breakfast, and herrings, if you can face them (The Swedes swear by them). Bananas are a godsend as they contain complex carbohydrates, potassium and Vitamin C.
• Vitamin supplements. Alcohol destroys Vitamin C and Vitamin B complex. Try taking a B complex before drinking, while drinking and before going to bed.

What’s your cure for the morning after? Post your magic hangover remedies here

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