It’s the time of year for holiday parties, New Year’s parties and just old fashion get-togethers. Here at BarWhiz we love a good party – you should have seen our office party last week, woo-wee! I don’t think those interns will be coming back next semester.

Anyway, we are all about the party, but we are also a strong advocate of drinking responsibly and of course always having a designated driver – whether you call a taxi, take public transit, or God forbid, call your Mom on Christmas Eve to come pick you up from the bar (long story) – drinking and driving is never a good idea. Not only do you run the risk of losing your license, but more importantly, when you get behind the wheel drunk you endanger the lives of everyone around you, including your own.

Although we fully support and encourage the designated driver program, we still like to take the time to poke fun at those who lost the bet, or the rock-paper-scissors toss, and ended up being the one to abstain for the night.

So without further adieu, here are the top 10 ways to tell who is the designated driver:

#10 – The only guy who doesn’t want to drive to the girl’s college, the Playboy Mansion or the Lost City of Gold.

#9 – The only guy in the whole bar who is drinking a Shirley Temple.

#8 – The only guy who keeps ordering virgin Vodka and Red Bulls.

#7 – The only guy who is not telling everyone how much they love them.

#6 – The only guy who hasn’t fallen off of his barstool at least once.

#5 – The only guy who isn’t trashing the bar.

#4 – They only guy who thinks it’s not a good idea to dance on the table.

#3 – The only guy who hasn’t passed out at the bar.

#2 – The only guy that is not trying to start a fight.

#1 – And the #1 way to tell who is the designated driver: They will always tell you.

All fun aside, having a designated driver is extremely important, and here’s an infographic from TotalDUI.com that explains why:

from Total DUI

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

Here at the Barwhiz Blog we’ve given you plenty ideas on how to have a great night out. From the best party cities, to the best drink recipes, to even the best drinking games.

But after all that fun what about the next morning? Don’t think that we’re just going to leave you hangin’.

We’ve compiled a list of the very best in hangover cures to aid in the effects of an amazing night out, but before we can even begin to cure our hangovers, we should first take a look at what exactly a hangover is:

A hangover is the name given to the sickness following a night of heavy alcohol consumption. (In fact the name hangover itself was once called veisalgia, a Norwegian word for “uneasiness following debauchery”).

Symptoms of a hangover include physical effects such as headaches, nausea, diarrhea, sensitivity to light and sound, weakness, muscle cramps, fatigue, dehydration and an increase of heart rate and blood pressure. In extension to these physical symptoms, psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression and a poor sense of well-being may also be felt.

Now that we have a better understanding of what we’re up against, let’s look at some helpful fixes and then a few false remedies:

Water

The most effective way to relieve the symptoms of a hangover is through the steady intake of water. For every drink you consumed the night before drink one glass of water the next day. If you want to lessen the effects before they happen, mix in a glass of water between every alcoholic drink you have the night of.

Sports Drink

Sports drinks can help you to replenish any lost electrolytes if you have become too dehydrated, but you have to be careful about which sports drinks you consume. Those that contain caffeine will actually be counterproductive as caffeine is a diuretic just like alcohol. If you have the option between water and a sports drink, it’s best to stick with the water.

Eggs

It’s not the greasy spoon breakfast special that will help to cure your hangover, but just the eggs alone. This is because eggs contain a compound that actually helps to break down alcohol induced toxins in the body.

Fruit

Fresh fruit is packed full of all the essential vitamins and nutrients the body needs after a long night of slowly poisoning yourself. The nutrients in fruit will help to get your body of toxins, and one of the best fruits to do this is:

Bananas

Since alcohol depletes the body of potassium, which in turn can cause many of your hangover symptoms, one of the best ways to replenish your body’s supply is with a banana.

Painkillers

Although some painkillers, like aspirin and ibuprofen, may reduce the severity of a hangover headache they will in fact increase the intensity of any gastrointestinal pain you may be feeling. One painkiller, acetaminophen, should never be taken as a hangover cure as alcohol can actually increase its toxicity.

Hangover Myths:

Hair of the Dog

This term “the hair of the dog that bit you” refers to drinking more alcohol to get rid of your hangover. In reality this tactic only prolongs your hangover and increases its power. Also it makes you an alcoholic.

Greasy Food

We all crave that greasy plate of ‘acon and beggs the morning after a night of partying, even though we know it will only make us feel worse. Ironically enough, greasy foods may actually help to lessen the effects of a hangover if they are first consumed before drinking.

Coffee

As previously mentioned, caffeine is a diuretic, so although coffee may be our go to beverage in the morning, it in fact increases the effects of a hangover by dehydrating you further.

Burnt toast

The idea behind this myth is that the carbon in the burnt toast can act like a filter and help to filter out the toxins left in your body after a night of binge drinking. It couldn’t be further from the truth.

Over the counter “hangover cures”

If I have to explain to you that there is no such thing as a miracle in pill, then my friend, I’m afraid that you may still be drunk.

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.