There are a lot of myths and theories about the “right” way to drink alcohol that supposedly won’t give you a hangover.
One popular one goes like this: “Beer before liquor, never sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.”
But is it true, or just an anecdotal rhyme that randomly caught on? TikTok creator @zarkticut_ decided to put it to the test.
Does the order of beer and liquor affect hangovers?
In his clip, which got over 3.7 million views, the TikToker says he already tried beer and then liquor, which had poor results. Now, he wants to try the opposite.
He conducted the experiment with Ketel One vodka and Busch Light Apple beer with 4.1% alcohol by volume.
“We already did beer before liquor. Never been sicker. I’m so hungover,” he says. “Results seem to hold true, but now we have to test liquor before beer. You’re in the clear.”
He starts with six shots of vodka.
“Taxpayer-funded research, by the way,” he jokes.
“That concludes the liquor department,” he says after drinking six shots. “It was much easier to take these shots after the six beers, I’ll just say that much. Now we beer.”
It doesn’t take long for the vodka to catch up with him.
“I’m not gonna lie, these six shots are hitting like a [expletive] truck right now,” he says. “Job’s not done though.”
Eventually, he finishes six beers on top of the six shots.
“OK, we have officially drank six beers and six shots,” he says. “Most analysts would say that I am adequately hammered.”
He then heads to bed to see whether the saying holds true.
The next morning, he has his answer.
“I can say with utmost certainty we are not in the clear,” he says.
However, he says the recovery was much faster.
“I can confidently say I’m 98% in the clear,” he says. “I think if you consume 12 of any drink in whatever order that fast, you’re gonna be hungover no matter what.”
What does science say about it?
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition focused on exactly this claim.
Researchers had 90 people drink beer and wine in different orders on separate occasions, then compared how severe their hangovers were the next day.
Neither the order nor the type of alcohol made a significant difference in how hungover they were. How drunk participants felt and whether they vomited were the strongest predictors of how bad their hangovers would be.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says the same thing. The more alcohol someone drinks, the worse the hangover tends to be, regardless of whether they drink beer, wine, distilled spirits, or a combination of them.
@zarkticut_
Viewers shared their own hangover theories
“Water before bed strat bro,” one commenter suggested.
“It’s to avoid puking, not a hangover!!” another wrote.
Others pointed out that the sheer amount he drank probably did it.
“I don’t think twelve drinks is going to leave you in the clear no matter what order you do it,” one viewer wrote.
Another blamed his choice of beer.
“It’s bc you drank Busch,” they wrote. “Do Coors light and you’ll be fine.”
That isn’t necessarily true. Alcohol itself is the main culprit behind a hangover, though a more carbohydrate-heavy beer could contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, or nausea.
Subplot News has reached out to the TikToker via email for comment.
