Almost everyone has pushed it a little too far at least once and woken up regretting it, but the real question is where the tipping point actually sits. GP Dr Bhavini Shah recently broke down what tends to happen in the body as alcohol adds up, offering a clearer picture of when a fun night can turn into a rough morning, as reported by Express.co.uk. Her point is that the slide into a hangover is usually more predictable than people think.
She starts with the basics, because the word “drink” can be misleading. A standard alcohol unit is about 10 ml or 8 g of pure alcohol, which is roughly what the average adult body can process in about an hour. How many units are in your glass depends on both size and strength, so two pints are not always equal. As an example, a large pint of stronger beer can contain around three units, while a lighter one may be closer to two.
At the lower end, even one or two units can shift how you feel. Dr Shah says this amount can raise heart rate and widen blood vessels, creating that gentle buzz that makes people feel more social or talkative. This is also where many start to lose track, since the effects can feel mild and manageable. The trouble is that the next stage arrives faster than expected when you keep topping up.
Once you reach roughly four to six units, she says alcohol starts affecting the nervous system in more obvious ways. Reaction time can slow, and the parts of the brain involved in decision making can take a hit. That combination often shows up as poorer judgment and a higher chance of impulsive choices. It is the kind of shift people notice in hindsight, especially if they wake up wondering why they made certain plans.
For many, the hangover line tends to appear at around eight units. Dr Shah says this is often enough to disrupt vision and sleep, and it can exceed what the liver can comfortably process in one night. In practical terms, that could look like about four pints of lower strength beer or cider at around 3.6 percent, or roughly four standard 175 ml glasses of wine. Past that point, the morning-after headache and nausea become far more likely.
She adds that around ten units can bring more dramatic symptoms, including heavily impaired coordination along with nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, and headaches. Regularly drinking eight units or more is commonly considered binge drinking for men, while the threshold for women is around six units. General health guidance often recommends staying under 14 units per week and spreading them across at least three days. Dr Shah also warns that around 12 units can put someone at serious risk of alcohol poisoning.
When it comes to easing a hangover, she is blunt that there is no shortcut to sobering up. The body metabolises alcohol at its own pace, but sleep can help the process run its course. Drinking water is also important, since it can counter alcohol’s dehydrating effect and may soften headaches. She also suggests bland, gentle food to raise blood sugar without irritating an already unsettled stomach.
What’s your personal hangover tipping point, and do you have a tried and true recovery routine that actually helps? Share your thoughts in the comments.
