I asked experts how to get rid of a New Year hangover

New Year’s Eve is just one day away, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate new beginnings with loved ones and raising a glass or two. But the excitement can sometimes mean getting carried away, and before you know it, you’re two bottles of prosecco down and regretting your life choices the following day. 

Nobody wants to begin 2026 with a thumping headache, vomiting spells or the shakes, but it’s the reality for a lot of people. As someone who has spent one too many New Year’s Days hungover, I decided to ask the experts how you can stop this from happening whilst still having a good night. Their advice was clear – a greasy fry-up isn’t always the answer, and there’s another thing you should be consuming instead. 

The reason that we feel hungover after drinking is mainly down to dehydration, so your first port of call should be sorting that out by drinking some water. Everyone will be aware of this, but there’s something you can add to your water that’ll help you feel a whole lot better – electrolytes. 

These are essential minerals that our bodies need to function, as they help our muscles and nerves to function, but we lose a lot of these when we drink alcohol. 

Dr Sanjay Mehta, GP at The London General Practice, explained: “The biggest effect is dehydration and that is because alcohol is a diuretic, which causes the loss of fluid and electrolytes that often leads to the typical fatigue, headaches and dizziness associated with a hangover. So ideally, it is best to make sure that you are well hydrated before, during and after a period of drinking.

“To replace the lost electrolytes, you can consume drinks rich in electrolytes or take over the counter electrolyte tablets, ideally taken before you go to bed so the absorption takes place as you sleep.”

Although it’s tempting to skip the water and make a cup of coffee instead – especially if you’re tired and have somewhere to be – this could actually end up makig you feel worse. 

Iain Budd, prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4U, says that drinking a coffee to sober up or get rid of a hangover is nothing more than a myth. 

He warned: “Caffeine can make you feel more alert, but it doesn’t help your body process alcohol faster, you’ll still be drunk, just wide awake. Coffee is also diuretic, so it can make dehydration worse, which is one of the main reasons you might feel unwell the next day. Stick to water or an electrolyte drink instead.”

Electrolyte drinks are especially effective if you’re feeling sick or dizzy post-drinking, according to Dr Tamsin Lewis from Reborne Longevity. She says that taking ‘small sips’ is key, explaining: “Alcohol irritates the stomach lining. Ginger helps settle nausea, electrolytes prevent dehydration, and antacids reduce acid-related discomfort.”

Dehydration also lowers your blood pressure, so if you’re prone to feeling lightheaded with a hangover, an electrolyte drink can help to sort you out. 

But you don’t just get electrolytes through special drinks or sachets – you can also consume it through diet too. Dr Ross Perry,  GP & Medical Director of Cosmedics www.cosmedics.co.uk, recommends eating foods rich in potassium the day after drinking, which will help to clear those symptoms. 

He said: “Eating foods the following day containing potassium such as bananas, oranges, apricots, grapefruit honeydew and cantaloupe melon, leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, potatoes, mushroom and peas will help to lessen the hangover and replenish the loss of electrolytes making you feel better quicker.”

As well as electrolytes, the advice from the experts also focused on another essential part of hangover recovery – getting enough rest. 

Belle Amatt, nutritional therapist at W-Wellness, explained: “Alcohol shortens REM sleep and fragments the night, so the following day should be about calm and recovery. Listen to your body and cat nap when the you feel the urge; snuggle up with cosy blankets and a calm film.”

And if there’s one thing you should do the night before for the best chances of sleeping, it’s putting down the bottle as early as you possibly can. 

“If you want a good night’s sleep, try having your last drop of alcohol earlier than usual,” suggested Deborah Grayson, pharmacist from Digestion With Confidence.

“Early evening or even late afternoon is best as this reduces your drinking window. It takes the liver an hour to metabolise each unit of alcohol. So if you’ve finished two glasses of prosecco, which is three units, at 10pm, your liver will still be processing the alcohol at 1am, impacting the quality of your restorative sleep.”