To limit a New Year's hangover, eat a full dinner, start drinking later, count standard drinks (champagne toasts add up), alternate with water, set out water and food for when you get home and keep January 1 free for sleep. Nothing cures a hangover except time, so the plan is mostly about the night before. It's written for adults 21+, with a realistic recovery plan for New Year's Day.
Key takeaways
- In a 12-person crossover study, champagne produced higher blood alcohol and slower reaction times than the same champagne with the bubbles removed.1
- A 5-oz glass of 12% sparkling wine is one US standard drink, so a few "just a toast" refills count.2
- Many adults clear roughly one standard drink every one to two hours, so drinks after midnight can still be in your system at breakfast.3
- In December 2024, 934 people died in US alcohol-impaired driving crashes.4
- Among 857 British adults who signed up for Dry January, participants reported drinking less six months later, even those who didn't finish the month.5
Why is a New Year's Day hangover so common?
Because the whole night is built around staying up and toasting at its peak. Drinks get spread over five or six hours, dinner sometimes gets skipped, and the biggest toast lands at midnight, when you've already been drinking for a while.
Then comes a late, short night. Alcohol helps you fall asleep but fragments the second half of the night,6 and blood alcohol can keep rising after the last drink.7 Rides can also be hard to find right after midnight, which is exactly when you don't want to improvise.
Before the party: what should you set up?
Dinner, a number and a ride. Those three decisions do more for January 1 than anything you'll find at the pharmacy.
- Eat a full dinner. Food slows alcohol absorption, and meals high in fat, carbohydrate or protein all work.3
- Start later. If the party starts at 8, have your first drink at 9 or 10. Fewer drinking hours means fewer drinks.
- Pick your number in standard drinks. Our standard drink guide helps with cocktails and big pours.
- Book the ride. NHTSA's advice: leave the New Year's driving to a pro, a sober friend, a taxi or a rideshare.4
Some people shouldn't drink at all, including anyone pregnant, in recovery or taking medicines that interact with alcohol.8
At the party: how do you pace until midnight?
Slowly, with water and food in between, and a planned last drink. Here's one way to run the clock:
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 7:00 p.m. | Full dinner |
| 9:00 p.m. | First drink |
| 10:00–11:30 p.m. | Water or soda between drinks; eat whatever's being passed |
| 11:45 p.m. | Switch to water so the toast isn't on top of a fresh drink |
| Midnight | A toast. A few sips count. |
| 12:30 a.m. | Your own last call |
| 1:00 a.m. | Ride home, water and a snack before bed |
Water helps you slow down, but studies haven't found it prevents hangovers.9 More pacing habits are in how to prevent a hangover.
Champagne and bubbles: do they get you drunk faster?
Often, yes, at least in small studies. Bubbles seem to speed up how fast alcohol is absorbed.
In a crossover study of 12 people given the same dose of alcohol, champagne produced higher blood alcohol and slower reaction times than champagne with the carbon dioxide removed.1 In another study of 21 adults, 14 absorbed vodka faster when it was mixed with carbonated water than with still water, while 7 showed no change or slower absorption.10
Faster absorption isn't the same as a worse hangover, and no study has tested champagne hangovers directly. The total amount still matters most.11 A 5-oz pour of 12% sparkling wine is one standard drink,2 and a flute that keeps getting topped off is hard to count.
How do you set up a "morning-after station" before you leave?
Put everything you'll want on January 1 within reach of your bed before you go out, because at 1 a.m., you won't.
- A full water bottle on the nightstand
- Something bland, like crackers or a banana
- Earplugs, an eye mask or closed blackout curtains
- A phone charger, with the alarm turned off
- If you use a pain reliever, one you already know is right for you, with its label (see the caution below)
Our hangover kit checklist covers the rest.
January 1: what's a realistic New Year's hangover recovery plan?
Sleep, water, bland food and a slow day. NIAAA says there is no cure for a hangover other than time.11
- Sleep in, and nap if you can.
- Drink water for thirst, and eat what sits well. See the best foods for a hangover.
- Have your usual coffee if you like, but it won't cure anything.
- Skip the brunch mimosa. NIAAA says "hair of the dog" can prolong the malaise.11
- Don't drive until you're truly clear. Drinks finished at 1 a.m. can still be in your system mid-morning, and hangovers impair attention and coordination.3, 11
For a step-by-step morning, see how to get rid of a hangover fast, and for the season before, our holiday party guide.
Thinking about Dry January?
It's a reasonable experiment, and the evidence on it is encouraging, if limited. Current US guidance is "Consume less alcohol for better overall health."8
In a study of 857 British adults who took part in Dry January, participants reported drinking less six months later, whether or not they completed the month, and very few reported drinking more afterward.5 Those were volunteers reporting on themselves, so the results may not apply to everyone.
One important caution: if you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal. Talk to a doctor first.13
What we don't know
No study has measured champagne hangovers directly, the carbonation studies are small, and the Dry January data come from people who chose to take part. The rest of this plan rests on solid basics: food, fewer drinks, sleep and time.
Frequently asked questions
Does champagne give you a worse hangover?
No study has tested that directly. Small studies suggest bubbles can speed alcohol absorption, so blood alcohol rises sooner, and refilled flutes are easy to lose count of. The total amount you drink matters most.
How do I not get a hangover on New Year's Eve?
The only sure way is to drink less or not at all. Short of that, eat a full dinner, start later, count standard drinks, alternate with water, make your own last call by 12:30 and set up water and a snack by your bed before you leave.
What should I eat on New Year's Day?
Whatever sits well: toast, crackers, rice, eggs, soup or fruit, with water for thirst. No food cures a hangover, but a gentle meal can make the day easier.
Is Dry January worth it?
For many people, yes. In one study of 857 British adults, participants were drinking less six months later, even if they didn't finish the month. If you drink heavily every day, talk to a doctor before stopping, because withdrawal can be dangerous.
Sources
- Ridout F, Gould S, Nunes C, Hindmarch I. The effects of carbon dioxide in champagne on psychometric performance and blood-alcohol concentration. Alcohol Alcohol. 2003;38:381–385. PubMed
- NIAAA. What Is a Standard Drink? Updated December 2025. Link
- Cederbaum AI. Alcohol metabolism. Clin Liver Dis. 2012;16(4):667–685. PubMed
- NHTSA Traffic Safety Marketing. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: Winter Holidays. Accessed October 9, 2026. Link
- de Visser RO, Robinson E, Bond R. Voluntary temporary abstinence from alcohol during "Dry January" and subsequent alcohol use. Health Psychol. 2016;35:281–289. PubMed
- Ebrahim IO, Shapiro CM, Williams AJ, Fenwick PB. Alcohol and sleep I: effects on normal sleep. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013;37(4):539–549. PubMed
- NIAAA. Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose. Updated December 2025. Link
- US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. Released January 7, 2026. PDF
- Imai H, Kushio S, Matsuura K, et al. Water intake during drinking does not alleviate hangover symptoms. Front Pharmacol. 2026;17:1852528. PubMed
- Roberts C, Robinson SP. Alcohol concentration and carbonation of drinks: the effect on blood alcohol levels. J Forensic Leg Med. 2007;14:398–405. PubMed
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Hangovers. Updated December 2025. Link
- US Food and Drug Administration. 21 CFR 201.326: Over-the-counter drug products containing internal analgesic/antipyretic active ingredients; required warnings. eCFR. Link
- MedlinePlus. Alcohol withdrawal. Reviewed January 1, 2025. Link
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA's National Helpline. Accessed October 9, 2026. Link
Published by Fuller Health, which makes After Party. This article is general information, not medical advice: talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your own health, medicines and drinking. Last reviewed October 9, 2026. How we research and write.