Why Vodka Causes Less Hangovers: The Science Behind It

If you enjoy going out and having a few drinks, you’re probably aware of the dreadful hangover that might occur the next day.

The type of alcohol you consume can have an impact on your hangover, in addition to other factors like dehydration and excessive drinking. Particularly vodka is frequently promoted as having a lower hangover risk than other alcoholic beverages.

So why does vodka have a lower chance of giving you a hangover? One explanation is that it is a distilled spirit that is clear, colorless, and odorless and has undergone many distillations, which removes many contaminants that can cause a hangover.

Additionally, congeners, compounds created during the fermentation process that might cause hangovers, are rather infrequent in vodka.

Vodka often has significantly lower levels of congeners than other spirits, such as whiskey and brandy, making it a more enticing choice for people trying to avoid a hangover.

Of course, it’s crucial to keep in mind that excessive consumption of any alcoholic beverage, including vodka or another spirit, might result in a hangover. However, picking vodka over other alcohol may be a wise choice if you want to enjoy a night out without feeling awful the next day.

Why Vodka is Less Likely to Give You a Hangover

If you’re someone who enjoys a drink or two, you know the unpleasant feeling of waking up with a hangover. The good news is that not all types of alcohol are created equal when it comes to hangovers.

Vodka, in particular, is known for being less likely to cause a hangover compared to other types of alcohol. In this section, we’ll explore why that is.

The Science Behind Hangovers

Before we dive into why vodka is less likely to give you a hangover, let’s first understand what causes hangovers. The primary cause of a hangover is the consumption of ethanol, the type of alcohol found in all alcoholic beverages.

Ethanol is a toxic substance that your body needs to break down and eliminate, which it does through a process called oxidation.

Causes of Hangovers

There are several factors that contribute to the severity of a hangover. These include dehydration, the presence of congeners (chemical substances produced during fermentation), and the concentration of alcohol by volume (ABV) in the drink.

Darker alcohols like rum, brandy, and whiskey tend to have higher concentrations of congeners, which can make hangovers worse.

How Vodka is Different

So, why is vodka less likely to give you a hangover compared to other types of alcohol? The answer lies in its distillation process.

Vodka is distilled multiple times, which removes impurities and congeners, resulting in a purer, cleaner spirit. This means that vodka has a lower concentration of congeners than other types of alcohol, making it less likely to cause a hangover.

Vodka vs. Other Types of Alcohol

While vodka is less likely to give you a hangover, it’s important to remember that drinking any type of alcohol in excess can still lead to a hangover.

However, if you’re looking for a drink that’s less likely to cause a hangover, vodka is a good choice. In fact, a study by the British Medical Journal found that vodka was the least likely type of alcohol to cause a hangover.

Switching to vodka or vodka light in your cocktails may help prevent a hangover. Also, drinking in moderation, staying hydrated, and eating before drinking can help prevent or reduce hangover symptoms.

Keep in mind that cheap liquor, homebrews, and contaminated alcohol can also contribute to hangovers.

Vodka is less likely to give you a hangover because of its distillation process, which removes impurities and congeners.

While it’s not a foolproof hangover cure, switching to vodka or vodka light in your cocktails and drinking in moderation can help prevent or reduce hangover symptoms.

Remember to stay hydrated and eat before drinking to further reduce your chances of regret and feeling drowsy, fatigued, nauseous, or suffering from a headache or upset stomach the next day.