Beer Before Liquor Or Liquor Before Beer? | Myths & Facts

“Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear“ is a common saying for avoiding hangovers the next day after drinking. 

Where the saying comes from is unknown, but drinking liquor before you drink beer is common advice in many cultures and languages.

Recent studies, however, show that the order you drink different types of alcohol doesn’t matter as much as other factors when it comes to hangover severity. 

Factors that may play a larger role in hangovers include feelings of dehydration, severe intoxication, and the total amount of alcohol consumed.

The Myth Of “Beer Before Liquor”

A 2019 study tested how likely people were to be hungover after drinking a combination of beer and white wine in different orders. The study found little to no connection between the order of alcohol consumed and the severity or likelihood of hangovers.

While this study did not compare drinking beer and liquor in different orders, the connection between total alcohol consumed and hangovers may be strong enough to make different alcohol types not matter as much. This finding also matches up with previous studies.

Before this study was published, the “beer before liquor” saying was likely around for decades. While the order of drinking may not matter as much as people once thought, there may still be some truth to the old saying.

Where Does “Beer Before Liquor” Come From?

On average, a can of beer or lager has much more carbohydrates than a glass of wine or a shot of liquor with the same alcohol content. High amounts of carbs can affect alcohol absorption and make you feel less drunk.

However, most beer cans and bottles are carbonated. Studies show that carbonated drinks lead to faster alcohol absorption, which can make you feel drunker. Feelings of severe intoxication are connected to feeling hungover the next morning. 

The high carbonation in a typical serving of beer (12 ounces of beer) can make you feel more intoxicated. These stronger effects of alcohol consumption from drinking carbonated beer first may be where the common advice comes from.

Factors That Can Affect Hangover Symptoms

Hangovers are still not fully understood, since alcoholic drinks affect your body from the amount of water in your cells to the enzymes in your liver. Hangover symptoms affect many of these aspects as well.

High ABV

It is generally agreed upon that alcoholic beverages with higher alcohol content are major factors in causing a hangover, compared to alcoholic beverages with lower alcohol content. Drinking too much alcohol overall can also leave you hungover, even if you are not drinking hard liquor.

Other Factors

Other factors that are linked to hangover symptoms include:

• congeners (additives found in dark liquors like red wine, tequila, and bourbon)
• drinking on an empty stomach
• being dehydrated at the end of the night
• vomiting because you drank too much alcohol

Treating Alcohol-Related Health Problems

Hangovers can cause unpleasant feelings of nausea, headache, dizziness, and sensitivity to light. Being hungover can make it difficult to get through the day, but hangovers are only one health problem caused by alcohol use.

Alcohol’s effects on the body can become permanent, especially if you drink too much alcohol over a long period of time. In severe cases, you may not be able to stop drinking even as your health declines due to alcohol.

If you feel like you have a drinking problem, it can be difficult to quit on your own. To find a dedicated treatment plan for alcohol abuse, contact our helpline today.