Why Certain Drinks Cause Hangovers
The hangover is terrible. No one wants to get them, but the only way to completely avoid them is to not drink, which is not entirely fun for those who would like to have a few cocktails.
Basically, hangovers are most often caused by dehydration, so it’s a good idea to drink as much water as possible before, during, and after a big party where drinks are served. However, the type of alcohol you choose to drink can also play a role in how hungover you are the next day.
A Dutch study found that darker alcohol caused more hangovers in students the next day than lighter ones. This is because fermentation of alcohol produces chemicals called congeners (and alcohol). Congeners help impart some of the interesting flavors you’ll find in darker drinks like red wine and whiskey, but they’re also responsible for rougher hangovers.
When something gets heavily filtered, some of these congeners are removed as well. So something like Smirnoff that’s distilled 10 times can do you better than other vodka that’s only distilled four times. There is also an argument for avoiding super sweet or bubble mixers, which have been shown to speed up hangovers.
In truth, the only way to truly avoid a hangover is to simply not drink. However, when given the choice between whiskey or vodka, there is a strong case for a lighter drink.
It’s worth noting that the same study found that alcohol tended to cause transmission more than a glass of wine or beer, in part due to the higher alcohol concentration in them. I could tell you this from my personal “research”, but it’s good to know that science supports me.