How to cure a hangover as England makes it to the 2024 Euro finals

A supporter of England holds a reduced-strength beer prior to the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C football match between Serbia and England at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on June 16, 2024. Gelsenkirchen has been declared high risk by the police due to fears Serbian ultras could clash with the tens of thousands of England fans that have made the trip to north-west Germany. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)
England fans will be flooding pubs and venues to drink and support the team in the 2024 Euro finals. (Getty Images)

It’s coming home! England has made it to the 2024 Euro finals after beating the Netherlands in a nail-biting semi-final. The team is set to face Spain in what is sure to be a tense and exciting game on Sunday 14 July.

Britons will undoubtedly be out in full force to support the team, with thousands expected to flock to pubs and venues for the 8pm game. Plenty of pints will be had, but that also means dealing with a dreaded hangover come Monday morning.

Whatever the outcome of 2024 Euro, suffering the following morning doesn’t have to be inevitable. There are things you can do to get ahead of the hangover, and to ease the headache and nausea that famously comes after a night of heavy drinking.

The only way to truly avoid a hangover is not to drink at all. However, drinking between one to two units of alcohol will simply make you feel more sociable and talkative, while anything more will likely end up with a hangover.

It’s important to drink in moderation, whether you’re celebrating a football win or drowning your sorrows over a loss. The NHS advises that adults should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week.

There are plenty of pints to be had when England faces off against Spain in the 2024 Euro finals - but that also means hangovers may be inevitable. (Getty Images)
There are plenty of pints to be had when England faces off against Spain in the 2024 Euro finals - but that also means hangovers may be inevitable. (Getty Images)

You can do your body and brain a favour by taking steps before you even take a sip of your first drink. The experts at UK Meds share the following tips for avoiding the worst of a hangover:

Eat before you drink

Food helps to slow the absorption of alcohol. Eating a substantial meal before you start drinking will help ‘line the stomach’.

Start slow

Take care of how much alcohol you are pouring out for yourself, especially if you are watching the game from your or someone else’s home and are serving yourself drinks. Start with soft drinks or mocktails to help pace yourself.

Drink at your own pace

While you may feel pressured to keep up with others, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to and you should drink at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Drinking more in a short period of time will increase the likelihood of a hangover, so remember to take it slow.

Stay hydrated

Make sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after drinking alcohol so that you stay hydrated. You can also add rehydration powders or tablets to your water, such as Dioralyte or Liquid IV, to up your hydration levels and keep the hangover at bay.

Tired young overworked businessman touch the head and feel strong pain
Having to face a working day with a hangover is no fun. (Getty Images)

If you get a little carried away and end up with a major hangover the next day, there are some methods you can try to ease the symptoms. The experts at JeffBet recommend these hangover tips:

Try an ice facial

It sounds a bit extreme, but an ‘ice facial’ has become popular on social media as a way to beat a hangover.

You can try this out by filling a large bowl with cold water and ice, and briefly submerge your face in it. This can help to combat fatigue and exhaustion, and can be an effective pain reliever. The rush of cold water also reportedly helps to reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Stock up on sugary snacks

Following a night of heavy drinking, blood sugar levels drop dramatically, which can make you feel nauseous. Consuming sugary snacks can help bring these levels back to normal.

You can also opt for fruit as a way to ease the hangover symptoms. Fruit have natural sugars that can help shift alcohol from your system quicker. Eating carbohydrates during your lunch break can also help provide some relief from nausea.

Even if you feel too ill to eat, you must ensure you eat enough good during the day. Even eating a small bowl of cereal before work can help.

Have a cold shower

In a similar vein to the ice facial, taking a really cold shower can help relieve the headache and provide a distraction from the anxiety and stress of a hangover.

It can also help reduce the effects of fatigue, making you feel more energised and alert before facing a day of work.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

You should try to stay hydrated while drinking, or at least drink a large glass of water before going to bed. However, it can be easy to forget to do both these things - to your detriment.

It’s essential to start rehydrating as soon as you wake up. Drinking water throughout the day will help relieve some symptoms quicker. You can also drink energy drinks and other electrolyte-replacing drinks to help boost your hydration levels.

Have an early night

If you’ve managed to get through the working day with your hangover, congratulations! You should reward yourself with an early night, as getting plenty of rest will help get rid of the hangover completely. Your body will be grateful for the chance to recover and repair itself.

Watch: PM hints at plans to 'mark' an England Euro 2024 victory

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