Having a Drink or Six...

A lot of Londoners enjoy a drink or two, though sometimes it ends up more like a drink or six. With so many bars, pubs and clubs right on your doorstep, it’s no wonder that alcohol plays such a large role in so many people’s lives. After a long day at work, temptation can get the better of us! Although getting tipsy can be fun, there are down sides to drinking alcohol. First there’s the journey home; it’s the early hours of the morning, the tubes have stopped running and you’re way too far from home. Then there’s the monster hangover the next day - something we’d all rather avoid! We thought we’d be nice and give you a few tips to avoid these two booze blunders.

When the tubes finish, you have two choices: you can either stand in the freezing cold air, waiting for a bus that allegedly runs a night service, or you can book a London taxi to get you home safe and warm. Unless you’ve had the foresight to bring along a designated designer, your options are limited. Luckily, you can book taxis in Holborn and in Richmond, minicabs in Covent Garden and up to Finsbury Park. There are 24/7 cab offices all over the city, waiting for your call. Sorted!

The other problem is a little more tricky. If you can remember (in your inebriated state), avoid mixing your drinks and drinking dark coloured drinks like red wine. These will both make you feel a lot worse tomorrow. When you get home, drink a glass of water before you go to bed, and keep a glass in your room for when you wake up. You know that dry mouth, pounding head and constant nausea? That’s all caused by dehydration, due to alcohol being a diuretic. It makes you need the loo more frequently, so you end up losing water that your body needs.

It’s a good idea to have a glass of fresh fruit juice on a hangover, replacing some of the vitamins you’re now lacking. If you really can’t shake the headache, try a soluble pain killer; this will be more gentle on the stomach. Just don’t try the ‘hair of the dog’ method - you’re only delaying the inevitable!