Which alcohol is best for New Year’s Eve: Three top choices

To avoid waking up on January 1 with nausea, anxiety, and a heavy head, it is important not only to control the amount but also to choose the right drink. Experts analyzed the biochemistry of popular beverages and identified which alcohol is the lesser evil.

Dry wine

If you want to minimize risks, the best choice is dry wine, white or red.

Thanks to its lower alcohol content (11–14%), it is sipped more slowly, which allows better control of the total ethanol dose.

White wine is considered gentler on the stomach.

Red wine requires caution: due to prolonged contact of the juice with grape skins, it may contain biogenic amines such as tyramine. In sensitive individuals, this can trigger migraines or high blood pressure.

Sparkling wines are tricky: the bubbles accelerate alcohol absorption, so intoxication occurs faster than expected.

Strong spirits

If you prefer strong alcohol, the cleanest option is quality vodka.

This is not snobbery but pure biochemistry. Vodka is a clear distillate with minimal impurities.

What to choose

Only Super-Premium or Premium categories. They are made from Alpha-grade (100% grain) alcohol of the highest purity.

What to avoid

Lux, Extra, and cheap options are less purified, which guarantees a rough morning.

Vodka can be easily overconsumed, so strict portion control is necessary.

Whiskey and cognac

Dark drinks, whiskey and cognac, are tastier but more dangerous for the morning after. Along with the oak flavor, you get congeners, compounds such as phenols, aldehydes, and esters. These are what make hangovers severe, with strong headaches and heart palpitations.

If you still choose this option, look for the golden middle in aging.

Whiskey: optimally 8–12 years.

Cognac: optimally 5–8 years.

Too young drinks are sharp and irritate the mucosa. Too old ones are overloaded with extracts that strain the liver. Avoid drinks with flavorings such as honey or caramel and artificial rounding agents

Main safety rules

Even the highest-quality alcohol becomes poisonous if consumed incorrectly. The liver can process only one standard dose (10–12 g of ethanol) at a time. This is roughly 100 ml of wine or 30 ml of strong alcohol.

To reduce toxicity:

• Do not drink on an empty stomach;

• Take breaks: drink slowly and in small sips;

• Water is your friend: be sure to drink water between toasts;

• No sweet cocktails: sugar significantly increases the load on the body.