Partyphiles Ask

Since we are celebrating Oktoberfest, I have asked my friends to pitch in some beer-related questions. I searched Google for the answers.

Facts about beer: it is the oldest alcoholic beverage in the world and is the third most popular beverage after water and tea.

Dorothy Falcon asked: what is beer made of?

Answer: It is made from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley or malted wheat. It is usually flavored with hops (which lends the bitter flavor to the beer)

Dann Basilio: where can I buy the cheapest beer?

Answer: in Davao City, your best bet is the friendly neighborhood sari-sari store or right from the factory. The cheapest beer I've purchased was in Jupiter Street in Makati at a place called Top Grill. They sold 5 bottles of Red Horse for only 99 pesos.

Alf Rae Tan: is Red Horse the strongest beer? What beer is the mildest?

Answer: in the Philippines, Colt 45 is probably the strongest beer with 7.2% alcohol. However, this does not even come close to the world's strongest beer. It is made by Scottish brewery named Brewdog and is called "The End of History". It has 55% alcohol. It is also said to be the world's most expensive beer, ranging from $500 to $700.

Jeremy Yap: what is the proper way of drinking beer?

Answer: first of all, always store your beer in the fridge, ad in an upright position to prevent oxidization. Use a cold glass or beer mug when drinking beer, and do not add ice as it waters your beer down. Next, pour the beer high above the glass to give it some bubbles. Connoisseurs usually suggest three-fingers worth of head. "Head" refers to the bubbles. It must be as thick as three of your fingers.

Lish Falcon: which country consumes the most beer?

Answer: the Czech Republic consumes about 158.1 liters of beer per person each year. That's about 400 ml of beer everyday.

Doy Bijis: why do people act stupid when they drink beer?

Answer: When beer or any type of alcohol hits your cerebral cortex, you start being more talkative and less inhibited. Once it hits the hippocampus it causes memory loss and exaggerates your emotions. One it hits your cerebellum, it makes you lose balance and coordination.

Hangover Remedies Explained

Hangovers. These are the bane of the partyphile’s existence. Every single alcohol-hungry partyphile has experienced the head aches, the nausea, the dizziness, the unsettling feeling in the tummy, and the lack of energy brought about by hangovers. It is one of the lowest down sides of partying, and it still continues to haunt many a partyphile. In fact, whenever I ask for topic suggestions for my radio show or newspaper column, hangovers are always the most popular answer; which is funny because I have discussed the topic on the air and on print at least five times since I started Confessions of a Partyphile. But due to insistent public demand, I bring you this article once again. Is it a rehash of an old article? Nope. In this article I am going to explain what a hangover is, and give you the low down on what you think are the best remedies or hangovers.

What is a hangover? Experts say it is a form of withdrawal; it the reaction of your body to the absence of alcohol that has been in your system for some hours. One of the most popular misconceptions in the Philippines is that a hangover means the same thing as drunkenness. If you think that, you are seriously gross.

For most people, a hangover is the collection of symptoms you experience the day after you go binge drinking. It is like a cocktail made with some or all of these symptoms:

• Dehydration
• Dry mouth
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Lack of energy
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Pessimism
• Difficult in concentrating
• Lack of focus
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Trouble sleeping
• Loss of balance

So now that we know what it feels like, we must know what causes it. You know that I don’t like getting too technical with my articles because then it would be obvious that I Googled all the facts I have here, so here is the simple low down: alcohol has a lot of different components and chemicals. These components and chemicals dehydrate you, strip off the minerals in your body, deplete your sugar levels, and make you feel all those symptoms. The sure fire way to avoid hangovers completely is to avoid alcohol completely. But of course we know that is not possible. Thus, we go to the most popular hangover remedies.

I asked my radio show listeners and my social networking friends about what they think is the most effective way to prevent or remedy a hangover. I have their answers here along with a little explanation of my own.

Koi Sevilla suggests: a glass of water before sleeping and milk or Gatorade in the morning.

Partyphile explains: a glass of water (or more) before sleeping is advisable because it helps rehydrate your body, putting in more liquid in your system will help minimize the effects of the hangover (granting of course that those liquids aren’t alcoholic). Milk is known to soothe an upset stomach; one of the causes of nausea. According to studies however, when it comes to hangovers, Gatorade or any other sports drink is equally as effective as water. Since water is cheaper, take that instead.

RJ Mercado suggests: chocolate in any form

Partyphile explains: if you can hold the chocolate down (which I find hard to do when suffering from a hangover), then you may do that. Chocolate has minerals and sugar; two things that are of a shortage when one suffers from a hangover. Is this the best source of minerals and sugar? Not really, studies suggest that honey is the best form of sugar as it is easier to break down. Also, if you insist on taking in some chocolate, try chocolate milk instead. It soothes the tummy as well as provides the necessary minerals you have lost.

Jeremy Yap suggests: raw eggs with Soy Sauce and Milo.

Partyphile explains: I don’t know what’s up with this Soy Sauce cocktail. I would find it hard to swallow this, but if you can, it just may become one of your best bets when it comes to hangover remedies. Salt helps you retain water in your body; one way to fight dehydration. However, since you are already dehydrated, it would be a big help to hold on to as much liquid as you can, so that is probably where the Soy Sauce helps. I don’t think it really helps that much though. Milo is also a good source of sugar and minerals and taking it with milk may help soothe your upset stomach. Raw eggs are the single best (ever) food product you ca ingest to take care of your hangover. Eggs contain a protein that is rich in a substance that is known to fight chemicals that cause hangovers. I could bombard you with the technical terms for these compounds ad elements but you would forget them away. Just keep in mind that eggs fight hangovers; however you have them…especially when you have them raw.

Carlo Violan suggests: ice cold beer.

Partyphile explains: as stated above, a hangover is actually a withdrawal. It is your body adjusting to the loss of alcohol that has inhabited your system for x number of hours. Thus, putting some alcohol back in may seem like a good idea, but it does not really treat the problems, it hastens the process though. So instead of treating the hangover, having some more beer may just lessen the degree of hangover-ness (I know there is no such word; I made it up. So sue me), but extends the time you experience it.

Francis Louie suggests: take a shower

Partyphile explains: this does not help at all. Although it might make you feel fresher, it does not reduce the effects of the hangover.

Marga Ray: take pain killers

Partyphile explains: if you are suffering from a headache, then go ahead and take some pain killers. However, it is all about timing with this one. Some people take pain killers or aspirins before they sleep after binge drinking. This just adds stress to your already stressed liver (thanks to the alcohol you just ingested). You must take the pain killers after you wake up with a hangover and a splitting headache. After taking the meds, go back to sleep. You should feel better when you wake up.

Catch Confessions of a Partyphile’s (The Radio Show) this Wednesday (August 31, 2011) from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions, log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun

Partyphile Clues You In: Hangovers

One of the biggest misconceptions in the Philippines is thinking that hangovers happen while you are drunk. That is false. Hangovers do not mean the same as being intoxicated or drunk. A Hangover is that feeling you get the morning after you drink too much. Usually, you get a headache, you are weak and have no energy, your tummy feels funny, and you feel nauseous.

What causes a hangover? A lot of things, actually. Alcoholic beverages contain certain compounds that inspire alcohol, they also inspire dehydration which usually explains why you feel nauseous and weak. What are the best remedies for hangovers? Here is a ten-step remedy for hangovers:

1.) While drinking, remember to choose the lighter colored alcoholic beverage. This will give you less of a hangover.

2.) Remember to eat before and during your drinking session. More food in your body will help delay the absorption of alcohol.

3.) Stay up late. After drinking, do not sleep straight away. Staying up late allows some alcohol to leave your system before going to sleep. You will feel better when you wake up.

4.) Right before you sleep, drink at least two glasses of water.

5.) Wake up at your normal waking time. This will help keep your body clock in check.

6.) After waking up drink some pain killers if you are suffering from a headache.

7.) Eat some protein because it is known to ease a hangover. Eggs are the easiest option.

8.) Avoid caffeine. This will dehydrate you some more and worsen your hangover.

9.) Drink some water to rehydrate your body. Sports drinks are known to be equally as effective so since water is cheaper, drink water instead.

10.) After eating, go back to sleep. When you wake up, your hangover should be gone.

Drink of the Week: Begola Cocktail

Since we are celebrating Anti-Hangover day today I'm giving out a recipe for a cocktail that is said to relieve hangovers by adding some more alcohol into your system, and keeping you hydrated. Here is how you make the morning-after-Begola cocktail:

In a collins glass filled halfway with ice, add :

• two shots of vodka
• two shots of blue Gatorade
• five shots of orange juice (use those that come in cartons in groceries, and not the powdered kind)

Stir and enjoy.

Partyphile Celebrates: Anti-Hangover Day

Today we are celebrating Anti-Hangover Day. Why? Because Hangovers are the banes of Partyphiles' existence. Hangovers prevent us from wanting to drink more and make us realize that we've overdone partying---something no partyphile should ever realize. Thus, I dedicate this day to fighting hangovers!

Partyphiles Confess: Puking vs. Passng Out

I asked: what is your most embarrassing story that involves puking or passing out from too much alcohol?

Carol: I was at Seawall with my friends and I wanted to vomit so bad, I hailed a peanut vendor, bought ten pesos worth of peanuts and paid him. Once he left I threw away all the peanuts and puked inside the small paper bag. Now, I realize I could have just puked anywhere in Seawall.

Claire: I passed out while partying and then I woke up the next Sunday morning and found out I was still inside the bar

Rica: I passed out in front of The Brewery and woke up the next day in the bed of my crush.

Nate: My neighbor woke up me one day while laughing hysterically. I was filled with dog hair and he explained that I slept in their garage while hugging their dog.

Josh: I was so drunk I puked inside a flower box only to find out that it was still under construction and men were still working on it as I was puking my heart out.

Albert: I was in Manila and I got excited because they didn't impose a liquor ban. I drank too much and ended up puking all through Ayala avenue. I was in my brother's car and I kept on asking him to stop because I had to puke. This was at 7 am on a Monday. And yes, people in buses, jeepneys, cabs, and private cars all kept staring at me in horror.

Partyphile Clues You In: Puking vs. Passing Out

Here is the deal, when most people get over-the-top drunk, they resort (involuntarily) to one of two things: puking or passing out. People always ask me about my opinion on these. Which is the better of two evils? I always say, i'd rather puke my gut out than pass out.

Here's the deal:

When you pass out you are obviously unaware of all the things that happen to you. First, you dont know whether your friends will leave you inside the bar or take you home. You dont know what strangers would do to you (because they can take advantage of you, or worse, take embarrassing photos of you and post it on Facebook), and you would not know for how long you'd stay unconscious.

When you vomit, you feel a lot better afterwards. You stay awake, and you embarrass yourself in public. However, when you puke, you can always choose where to do that. Hopefully, its inside the loo.