Pharmacy Daily | Dispensary Corner 28 Mar 25

WHEN it comes to health, there are many things about getting older that aren't much fun.

But some small consolation may be that hangovers apparently become less diabolical with age, according to Dutch research.

Scientists from Utrecht University found that heavy drinkers aged 18-35 reported experiencing the most severe symptoms the morning after, while those aged 46-65 rated their post-alcohol headache, nausea and exhaustion as half as intense as younger drinkers.

These findings fly in the face of evidence from previous studies - and perhaps lived experience - suggesting that hangovers feel worse as we get older.

But the Dutch team said their findings not only show that hangover severity and frequency declines with age, but people also feel the effects of alcohol less - despite drinking the same amount of booze.

The study included 760 alcohol drinkers aged 18 to 94 who recorded their alcohol consumption over two months, including quantity and frequency, as well as the number and severity of hangovers.

Participants were matched across age groups based on the amount of alcohol consumed, and hangover data was compared.

Without wishing to encourage excessive consumption, what they found was that with increasing age and alcohol use, 'tolerance' develops to its acute effects, with an age-related reduction in pain sensitivity potentially also contributing.