Will mixing different types of alcohol give you a worse hangover?

According to a dietitian, noit’s more about how much you’re drinking.

Experts in This Article

Brooklynbased registered dietitian

Bet youve heard this sing-songy adage before.

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But is there really any truth to this?

How did the negative connotation of mixing different types of alcohol begin?

They are usually based around anecdotal, communal constructs that serve a social purpose.

Photography of a apple juice in glasses and apples in a wicker basket on wooden table

Brooklyn–based registered dietitian

But if theyre not entirely truthful, why do they have longevity?

In addition, the social aspect of drinking can also allow certain habits and rituals to proliferate.

Is mixing different types of alcohol as bad as were led to believe?

red pigment in a wooden spoon

In one word: no.

What will most affect your hangover is the total amount of alcohol consumed, Pasquariello says.

With that said, there are a few nuances the dietitian takes care to point out.

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She explains that these measures were actually determined by the beverage industry for standardization and regulatory purposes.

But theres more that factors into the equation.

Timing of intake

Lets now circle back to the concept of serving sizes.

Cropped shot of young woman shopping in the dairy section of a supermarket. She is reading the nutrition label on a container of fresh organic healthy natural yoghurt

Brooklyn–based registered dietitian

But what differs is the time it takes you to consume them.

Carbonation

Next, Pasquariello mentions that carbonated alcoholic drinks may also result in quicker side effects.

More carbonation tends to mean faster absorption from the GI system into the bloodstream, she says.

A hand is stirring a sourdough starter in a glass jar, on a kitchen countertop. The light casts a warm glow, highlighting the ingredients inside the jar.

Long-term alcohol consumption is also a strong risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, Pasquariello says.

With that said, mixing types of alcohol does have the built-in potential to lead to greater consumption overall.

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