The alcohol hangover research group consensus statement on best practice in alcohol hangover research

Abstract

Alcohol-induced hangover, defined by a series of symptoms, is the most commonly reported consequence of excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol hangovers contribute to workplace absenteeism, impaired job performance, reduced productivity, poor academic achievement, and may compromise potentially dangerous daily activities such as driving a car or operating heavy machinery. These socioeconomic consequences and health risks of alcohol hangover are much higher when compared to various common diseases and other health risk factors. Nevertheless, unlike alcohol intoxication the hangover has received very little scientific attention and studies have often yielded inconclusive results. Systematic research is important to increase our knowledge on alcohol hangover and its consequences. This consensus paper of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group discusses methodological issues that should be taken into account when performing future alcohol hangover research. Future research should aim to (1) further determine the pathology of alcohol hangover, (2) examine the role of genetics, (3) determine the economic costs of alcohol hangover, (4) examine sex and age differences, (5) develop common research tools and methodologies to study hangover effects, (6) focus on factor that aggravate hangover severity (e.g., congeners), and (7) develop effective hangover remedies.

Fig. 1

The majority of surveyed Dutch students report always or often being unable to study when experiencing an alcohol hangover [6].

Fig. 2

Commonly observed changes over time in blood alcohol concentration (BAC, dashed line) and alcohol hangover severity. Hangover severity is most pronounced when blood alcohol concentration reaches zero (in this example at 12 to 14 hours after the start of alcohol consumption). Derived from data of [1].

Fig. 3

Hangover severity reported by men and women after consumption of 10 to 15 alcoholic drinks (top) and 5 to 10 alcoholic drinks (bottom) by time of day [53]. Significant sex differences in hangover severity were found at 14.00h, 16.00h, and 18.00 h.

Fig. 4

Percentage of heavy episodic drinkers among different age groups (5+/4+ alcoholic drinks on a single occasion by men/women, respectively). Note the significant difference between men and women, and the rapid decline as age increases (data from [65]).