The incidence and severity of hangover the morning after moderate alcohol intoxication

ABSTRACT Aims To determine the incidence and covariates of hangover following a night of moderate alcohol consumption at a targeted breath alcohol level. Design Data were combined from three randomized cross‐over trials investigating the effects of heavy drinking on next‐day performance. A total of 172 participants received either alcoholic beverage (mean = 0.115 g% breath alcohol concentration) or placebo on one night and the other beverage a week later. The next day, participants completed a hangover scale. Participants Participants were 54 professional merchant mariners attending a recertification course at Kalmar Maritime Academy (Kalmar, Sweden) and 118 university students or recent graduates recruited from greater Boston. Setting One trial was conducted at Kalmar Maritime Academy (Sweden); the other two were conducted at the General Clinical Research Center at Boston Medical Center. Measurements A nine‐item scale assessed hangover. Findings Hangover was reported by 76% of participants. Neither alcoholic beverage type nor participant characteristics was associated with incidence of hangover. Conclusions Our findings on the propensity of hangover suggest that 25–30% of drinkers may be resistant to hangover.