I wanted those of you that party on St. Patrick’s Day to have this information ahead of time. It seems that there is always information the day after but really some of you will still be legally drunk – remember that! And some will be too miserable to drive anyway for what you need. Who would think that my training in Human Resources would be helpful on this blog?

Let’s quickly discuss being legally drunk. This is something that people just don’t understand. I hear all the time I wasn’t drunk I was buzzed. Or I was so miserable I wasn’t drunk. Here is how the BAC test works. When you blow into the BAC machine it measures Blood Alcohol Content. It does not matter how you feel. It measures what is in your system. Some people will because of their natural biology always blow up to a .02 in Illinois blowing a .08 will get you a trip to jail. I don’t know about you but that is one place I don’t ever need to visit thank you very much. Every person metabolizes alcohol differently so there is not just one set of rules. I had a friend who only drank 2 beers get pulled over had to blow in the machine which he did willingly because “he didn’t feel drunk,” but he blew a .08. How did this happen? Again, because he had had those 2 beers rather quickly and they had not yet metabolized. Its not the feeling its the Blood Alcohol Content in your system.

Let’s move on…

1. Limit your alcohol intake. Duh! Both hangover incidence and severity are determined by the amount of alcohol you consume. Drinking in moderation can help prevent hangover symptoms.

2. Avoid drinks with Congeners. Huh? Through the process of ethanol fermentation, sugars are converted into carbon dioxide and ethanol, also known as alcohol. Congeners are toxic chemical by-products that are also formed in small amounts during this process, with different alcoholic beverages contain varying amounts. Choosing drinks that are low in congeners, such as vodka, gin, and rum could decrease the severity and frequency of hangovers.

3. Eat a good breakfast. Eating a good breakfast can help maintain your blood sugar levels, provide important vitamins and minerals and reduce the symptoms of a hangover.

4. Get plenty of sleep. Alcohol consumption may interfere with sleep. A lack of sleep can make hangover symptoms worse.

5. Stay hydrated. Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration, which may make symptoms worse. Staying hydrated can help reduce symptoms. Gatorade, Powerade, some people drink Pedialyte and of course water. Coffee and soda a dehydrating.

6.Have a drink the next morning. Now remember if you are going to work do NOT and I repeat do NOT do this. However, if you are staying home a small drink could help relieve your symptoms.

7. Take supplements. Red Ginseng, Prickly Pear and Ginger all known to be hangover reducers.

O.K. you party people there is all the information I have for hangovers. The best one would be not to over do it in the first place but I know it is St. Patrick’s Day. Have fun and be safe!