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Grape or grain but never the twain
Alcohol-induced hangover constitutes a significant, yet understudied, global hazard and a large socio-economic burden. Old folk wisdoms such as “Beer before wine and you’ll feel fine; wine before beer and you’ll feel queer” exist in many languages. However, whether these concepts in fact reduce hangover severity is unclear.
A study investigated the influence of the combination and order of beer and wine consumption on hangover intensity.
Ninety participants were randomly assigned in to one of 3 study groups. Study group 1 consumed beer up to a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC)
≥0.05% and then wine to BrAC ≥0.11%. Study group 2 consumed the same quantities, but in the opposite order and the control group subjects consumed either only beer or only wine. On a second intervention day more than a later, study- group subjects were switched to the opposite drinking order. Control-group subjects who drank only beer on the first intervention received only wine on the second study day (and vice versa). The researchers redorded hangover severity
assessed by Acute Hangover Scale rating on the day following each intervention and other factors associated with hangover intensity.
The research found that neither type nor order of consumed alcoholic beverages significantly affected hangover intensity. Multivariate regression analyses revealed perceived drunkenness and vomiting as the strongest predictors for hangover intensity.
The authors say that their findings dispel the traditional myths “Grape or grain but never the twain” and “Beer before wine and you’ll feel fine; wine before beer and you’ll feel queer” regarding moderate-to-severe alcohol intoxication, whereas subjective signs of progressive intoxication were confirmed as accurate predictors of hangover severity.
Source: Grape or grain but never the twain? A randomized controlled multiarm matched-triplet crossover trial of beer and wine. Jöran Köchling Berit Geis Stefan Wirth Kai O Hensel. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 109, Issue 2, 1 February
2019, Pages 345–352.
A study investigated the influence of the combination and order of beer and wine consumption on hangover intensity.
Ninety participants were randomly assigned in to one of 3 study groups. Study group 1 consumed beer up to a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC)
≥0.05% and then wine to BrAC ≥0.11%. Study group 2 consumed the same quantities, but in the opposite order and the control group subjects consumed either only beer or only wine. On a second intervention day more than a later, study- group subjects were switched to the opposite drinking order. Control-group subjects who drank only beer on the first intervention received only wine on the second study day (and vice versa). The researchers redorded hangover severity
assessed by Acute Hangover Scale rating on the day following each intervention and other factors associated with hangover intensity.
The research found that neither type nor order of consumed alcoholic beverages significantly affected hangover intensity. Multivariate regression analyses revealed perceived drunkenness and vomiting as the strongest predictors for hangover intensity.
The authors say that their findings dispel the traditional myths “Grape or grain but never the twain” and “Beer before wine and you’ll feel fine; wine before beer and you’ll feel queer” regarding moderate-to-severe alcohol intoxication, whereas subjective signs of progressive intoxication were confirmed as accurate predictors of hangover severity.
Source: Grape or grain but never the twain? A randomized controlled multiarm matched-triplet crossover trial of beer and wine. Jöran Köchling Berit Geis Stefan Wirth Kai O Hensel. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 109, Issue 2, 1 February
2019, Pages 345–352.
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