The incidence and severity of hangover the morning after moderate alcohol intoxication

Addiction. 2008 May;103(5):758-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02181.x.

Abstract

Aims: To determine the incidence and covariates of hangover following a night of moderate alcohol consumption at a targeted breath alcohol level.

Design: Data were combined from three randomized cross-over trials investigating the effects of heavy drinking on next-day performance. A total of 172 participants received either alcoholic beverage (mean=0.115 g% breath alcohol concentration) or placebo on one night and the other beverage a week later. The next day, participants completed a hangover scale.

Participants: Participants were 54 professional merchant mariners attending a recertification course at Kalmar Maritime Academy (Kalmar, Sweden) and 118 university students or recent graduates recruited from greater Boston.

Setting: One trial was conducted at Kalmar Maritime Academy (Sweden); the other two were conducted at the General Clinical Research Center at Boston Medical Center.

Measurements: A nine-item scale assessed hangover.

Findings: Hangover was reported by 76% of participants. Neither alcoholic beverage type nor participant characteristics was associated with incidence of hangover.

Conclusions: Our findings on the propensity of hangover suggest that 25-30% of drinkers may be resistant to hangover.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / metabolism*
  • Alcoholic Intoxication / complications
  • Alcoholic Intoxication / metabolism*
  • Boston
  • Dehydration / etiology*
  • Female
  • Headache Disorders, Secondary / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweden