The incidence and severity of hangover the morning after moderate alcohol intoxication.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and covariates of hangover following a night of moderate alcohol consumption at a targeted breath alcohol level.


METHODS
Data were combined from three randomized cross-over trials investigating the effects of heavy drinking on next-day performance. A total of 172 participants received either alcoholic beverage (mean=0.115 g% breath alcohol concentration) or placebo on one night and the other beverage a week later. The next day, participants completed a hangover scale.


METHODS
Participants were 54 professional merchant mariners attending a recertification course at Kalmar Maritime Academy (Kalmar, Sweden) and 118 university students or recent graduates recruited from greater Boston.


METHODS
One trial was conducted at Kalmar Maritime Academy (Sweden); the other two were conducted at the General Clinical Research Center at Boston Medical Center.


METHODS
A nine-item scale assessed hangover.


RESULTS
Hangover was reported by 76% of participants. Neither alcoholic beverage type nor participant characteristics was associated with incidence of hangover.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings on the propensity of hangover suggest that 25-30% of drinkers may be resistant to hangover.
Howland
Jonathan
J
Youth Alcohol Prevention Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA. jhowl@bu.edu
Rohsenow
Damaris J
DJ
Allensworth-Davies
Donald
D
Greece
Jacey
J
Almeida
Alissa
A
Minsky
Sara J
SJ
Arnedt
J Todd
JT
Hermos
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D001900:Boston; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden