Mixologists, bartenders tell you how to get over a hangover

'Restoratives are the way to go'
Warren Bobrow, New York-based mixologist, chef, columnist and author of Whiskey Cocktails and Apothecary Cocktails. Also known as 'The Cocktail Whisperer'
Precautions: 
- Use only freshly-squeezed juices in cocktails. Avoid the ones with corn syrup mixers. They give memorable hangovers.

Remedies:
- Think oatmeal with Scotch-soaked fruit. Then there are the potent restoratives: German Underberg (a digestif bitter made from aromatic herbs) and Fernet Branca (an Italian amaro or bitters brand). Milk punch (milk, brandy or Bourbon, sugar and vanilla extract, served cold — usually with nutmeg sprinkled on top) works wonders and so does a Ramos Gin Fizz.
I love bitters and seltzer. They maintain a healthy intake of fluids and benefit digestion. Angostura and Peychaud's bitters were invented for stomach distress. Use them by the tablespoonful!

'Next time, drink less'
Simone Caporale, Assistant Head Bartender at Artesian at The Langham, London
- Never drink coffee when you're hungover. It worsens the dehydration. Drink lots of water — better yet, coconut water, if you have access to it.
- Berocca (a vitamin-infused drink) with water and three painkillers, or a small beer also works.
- Best and last advice on curing a hangover: next time, drink less.

'Time is the only cure'
Ami Behram Shroff, Flair bartender
Precautions:
- Binge drinking isn't the healthiest thing to put your body through. Neither is mixing drinks. So avoid both if you want to avoid a hangover.

Remedies:
- In my experience, there's no sure shot remedy. But certain things can make you feel better. Such as a long, cold shower. Also have herbal or ginger tea or nimbu paani — though with less sugar. And although you may feel nauseous or not have an appetite, you must eat. Salads and fruit will do. Mix up the food and don't have too much of one thing. Get enough rest, but don't oversleep. It will make you feel worse.

- There are many remedies I've heard of — beer being one of them. But I think the only hangover cure is time. There are medicines that supposedly cure a hangover instantly, such as PartySmart. But I try to avoid such medicines as we don't know what's in them. At the end of the day, just give your body what it's asking for.

'Avoid fizzy drinks'
Dimitri Lezinska, Celebrity mixologist at The Good Wife, BKC and co-host of Discovery Channel’s series 'Cocktail Kings'
Precautions:
- Be well-rested before a night out. Also know your limits and be responsible.
- Have a glass of water every 2-3 drinks and pace yourself while drinking. Consider the ratio of alcohol in your drinks. Sounds obvious, but it's important.
- Fizzy drinks are an evil. They keep your pylorus (the connection between the stomach and the duodenum) open, which makes the alcohol go faster into your bloodstream. The function of the pylorus is to regulate food entry – therefore alcohol – into the duodenum. Fatty foods may slow down the speed at which your body metabolizes alcohol, so they can also help. 
- After you return home, drink water.

Remedies:
- Everyone is different, so what works for one may not work for another. Just give your body the energy it requires (vitamins and certain minerals) to deal with the hangover. 

'Avoid painkillers'
Nikhil Agarwal, Sommelier and Director, All Things Nice
Precautions:
- Drink the quality stuff. Poor quality spirits, wines, etc. give you a hangover even in lower quantities.

Remedies:
- Eat lots of carbs and sleep. Taking painkillers works in the short run, but is not recommended. It only hides the problem and doesn't make it go away. It can even cause major health issues later if done frequently.

'The 'Don't mix your drinks' theory is crap'
Tim D Philips, Bartender at Sydney's Bulletin Place

Precautions:
- Eat substantial amounts of food before drinking. Sounds obvious, right?
- I always drink a glass of water for every three drinks I consume. Stay away from heavily sugary drinks. So no Bourbon and Cokes or cheap, inferior cocktails. But I think the 'don't mix your drinks' theory is crap. Just drink quality. I couldn't imagine going out to dinner with friends and being so boring as to only drink one type of drink all night. 

Remedies:
- At the end of the night, I drink as much water as I can consume (usually around 500ml) and take a few headache pills proactively. 
- I don't subscribe to the full English breakfast way of thinking. I like a big bowl of muesli with plenty of bananas and a green tea. If that fails and you start to really hate yourself, get a 2L bottle of lemonade and a pizza. If you're lucky, a cricket match will be on, and you'll have a good excuse to spend seven hours in front of the TV. 

'Have cocktails with high citric content'
Brijesh P. Vyas, Head Bartender at Ellipsis
Drink cocktails with a higher citric content (orange, lemons, grapefruit, any type of citrus). Citrus contains a high amount of electrolytes, which keeps you more hydrated. With that said, rehydrate before bed. Gatorade or coconut water the next day is a must.

'Don't have cold water'
Shishir Rane, Mixologist and Group Head-Beverage & Brand Experience at Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality Pvt Ltd.
Precautions:
- Having soakages — foods that absorb alcohol —before drinking is important. It's a custom abroad. Indians are the only ones who drink before eating. Soakages include cheesy or oily foods (such as fish rich in Omega 3 like trout, salmon and mackerel) and even milk. In Mediterranean countries, people have a spoonful of olive oil before drinking. It cools down the intestines and acts as a lubricant, in turn slowing down alcohol absorption.
- Have cocktails only if you're certain you won't be having more than 2-3 of them.
- The whiter the spirit (like white rum, vodka, gin) the better. Dark spirits like brandy, whiskey, Bourbon and red wine have more congeners (substances produced during fermentation) that can induce a hangover. Also avoid fizzy drinks since they increase alcohol absorption. It sounds surprising, but champagne is the worst thing to have if you're looking to have a long night of celebrations. It can give terrible hangovers if had in excess.
Remedies:
- The worst thing to do is have cold water the next day. Chilled water hurts your tummy. Coffee and anything carbonated should also be avoided. So although ginger ale is good, make it a flat one. 
- Sleep is great, but you'll feel worse if you oversleep. Get up, eat something, go for a small walk, and then come back to sleep. You'll feel much better. 

'Have drinks that dry your throat'
Ajoy Shaw, Chief Winemaker, Sula Vineyards
Precautions:
- Finish with a maximum of 3-4 standard drinks. Drinking too fast is a problem and can lead to more drinks than you planned for. Also be prepared to take somebody along who does not drink so that you can reach home safely.
- Avoid fizzy drinks like champagne and sweet-flavoured alcoholic drinks. If you want those, have a glass and sip slowly, relishing the flavours and the aromas. Just because it's the best champagne, do not be greedy.
- Choose a neutral alcohol like vodka or rum instead of Grappa, whiskey or brandy. These have less bad stuff or congeners.
- If you want to have whiskies or Scotch, have it on the rocks or warm. Diluting your drink will make your liver work harder to process the volume.
- White wines or a light soft red like Pinot Noir, Zinfandel or Malbec are good, but even a Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah will dry your throat, making you want to drink some water between drinks. If you forget this, drink 2-3 glasses of water before going to bed. This is the best step to avoid a hangover.
Remedies:
- Avoid medications as they can further reduce the activity of your liver and slow down recovery. If you are queasy, have crushed ginger, honey and orange juice. You can take an Alka Seltzer or an antacid, but it will only provide temporary relief. Have a light breakfast or brunch and instant energy booster drinks like Glucon-D.
- Though people vouch for sleep, I'd suggest relaxing in an easy chair in a nicely-lit verandah.
- You can also take a shower to freshen up. But remember, these remedies are not quick fixes and you will take probably twice as much time to recover as you have spent last evening drinking!

'Have small measures instead of patialas'
Rakshit Khurana, mixologist and Manager, North Region, Tulleeho
Precautions:
- Don't overeat in your endeavour to fill your stomach before drinking. Eat right and give your self 30-60 minutes before you start to drink.
- If there's a long night ahead, plan in advance and give your body enough rest. The chances of nausea and dizziness hitting you are stronger if you're tired. 
- Grab at least 10 ounces of water every hour, if not less. This will increase your restroom visits, but it's worth it.
- Keep champagne or sparkling wine to a minimum, as carbonated drinks get to your head faster. This includes sodas as well.
- Never neglect the quality of alcohol you're having. Good quality spirits are distilled with great care and have less congeners, which are believed to cause hangovers.
- Have small measures instead of patialas.
Remedies: 
- Try not to crash in bed right after a night of drinking. Give your body a few minutes to settle. Drink lots of water in that time.
- Avoid spicy food the morning after as it may not allow your stomach to resettle.
- Coffee? I wouldn't have it unless I have to rush somewhere and need the caffeine to lift me up. Opt for iced tea or adrak chai instead.
- The famous 'Hair of the Dog' remedy may not be the best solution. You're just giving your body some more alcohol to metabolise. Instead, try tonic water or ginger ale with fresh lime and aromatic bitters (even though bitters have alcohol, the amount is negligible compared to other drinks). Or try fresh orange juice with ginger syrup and soda with a few dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Even though pills work for some, I wouldn't recommend them. pills. Vitamin B is fine, but it's best to resort to more natural sources.