Planning to party this New Year’s? Try these Central Valley bartenders’ hangover cures
Over eight years working in Central Valley bars, I’ve learned a lot about the best way to cure those head-throbbing, stomach-churning hangovers that come after a night of over-indulgence.
Although the only real hangover cure is time, I’ve discovered other ways to ease the symptoms — from Alka-Seltzer tablets to dipping your face in ice-cold water.
This year, I brought in some help and asked a handful of local bartenders to share their advice on how to alleviate the worst of the worst hangovers ahead of New Year’s Eve.
Remember, bartenders aren’t doctors — though our regulars would argue that we are therapists — so speak with a medical professional if your issues are more than this advice can solve:
What’s the best way to recover from a hangover?
The age-old saying “hair of the dog that bit you” suggests that drinking a small amount of the alcohol that caused your hangover will alleviate your symptoms. While it may be true, it can be a dangerous game to play.
Instead of a shot — which can turn to two and then three — Modesto-based bartender Mark Mitchell suggests ordering a bloody mary “with all the fixins.”
How should you garnish your cocktail?
“Bacon, banana peppers, some shrimp and a little piece of a grilled cheese,” Mitchell said.
I recommend a healthy amount of olives, too.
That way, you get a limited amount of booze and a large amount of satisfaction — and you may be too full to consume anything else.
Does ‘Real Housewives’ have a real cure for symptoms?
Not all reality shows are based in reality, but a hangover cure featured in one of them supposedly is.
My sister, Ripon bartender Anika Anaya, said she learned a common Russian practice of curing a hangover — drinking pickle juice or eating pickles — from watching TV.
“It’s supposed to help with the sodium and water balance in your body,” Anaya said. “I learned it on ‘Real Housewives of Miami,’ but that’s not important.”
Take this to prevent a hangover from happening
Layla Hodel, a Stanislaus County bartender, has been working in the service industry for more than 30 years.
To prevent a hangover, she said you should consume activated charcoal the night before you imbibe.
It “absorbs the toxins to avoid the hangover,” Hodel said, although that hasn’t been scientifically proven.
Hodel also suggests taking vitamin B and ibuprofen the night before, and other bartenders agreed that taking painkillers before drinking can help.
If you didn’t remember to do any of these things before getting in too deep, Hodel says a dash or two of bitters in soda water can help cure a hangover.
Eat fast food for fast relief
Being hungry and hungover do not mix, according to private bartender Joe Pires.
If you don’t go to bed hungry, you won’t get hungover, he said.
Pires suggests filling up on greasy goodness before falling asleep when you’ve been drinking — namely fast food such as Jack in the Box.
“It worked for me,” Pires said.
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