Author: John Carter

Why we should be served a glass of water with every alcoholic drink

It’s an ever-changing relationship depending on the flavor compounds that exist within a certain whiskey. These are influenced by an array of factors, from how the spirit is filtered to cask finishes. “Due to molecule by molecule variation in solubility in water, this can cause certain flavors to be more ‘visible’ to the nose, particularly those that are drowned by the alcohol at higher strength,” Fraser says. In essence, when a whiskey is diluted, certain flavor compounds go from being soluble to insoluble as the strength of the spirit changes. Soluble compounds are less apparent when tasting, while insoluble compounds reveal themselves to drinkers as flavors. Adequate water consumption is an essential part of detoxing from alcohol, but it isn’t enough alone.

Adrian never really thought about the actual numerical volume of alcohol he was drinking until after tracking his alcohol consumption an expert revealed that he was consuming 80 – 100 units per week, which is way over the recommended 14 units per week. The hydrating beer had a lower alcohol content and was pumped up with electrolytes. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery has its own hydrating brew — but if it’s not on tap at your local bar, you can choose a lower-alcohol beer (just don’t compensate by drinking more of it). “In US restaurants, it’s standard to receive water before even seeing the drinks list – and your glass will be topped up throughout the meal.

Drink Water Before, During and After Drinking Alcohol

Before you begin drinking any alcohol, begin by drinking plenty of water. Before a whiskey is bottled and long before it glides into your glass, the spirit is introduced to water during various phases of the production process. From steeping barley to initiate germination (an integral part of the pre-fermentation stage for many whiskeys that use malted barley) and mashing, to fermentation and proofing, the value of using quality water in whiskey making cannot be understated.

Does Water Help with Alcohol Detox?

As a result, the symptoms of alcohol consumption, such as headache and fatigue, are amplified. These shifts in flavor are typically a result of the way ethanol molecules (or the alcohol content in whiskey) recalibrate themselves among the other molecules and the water itself. Since there are two poles to ethanol molecules — one being hydrophilic and the other hydrophobic — at very low concentrations, ethanol accumulates at the surface of a glass of whiskey. It’s at the surface that these molecules align themselves in their preferred direction with the water-repelling (i.e hydrophobic) side facing upwards toward the air. Above a certain concentration, the ethanol at the surface reaches capacity, and some of the molecules that cannot fit retreat into the depths of the liquid, becoming soluble, and therefore less noticeable to the human palate.

1. There are several ways to prevent dehydration while drinking alcohol.
2. According to Cedars-Sinai, electrolytes are minerals, such as potassium, sodium, chloride and calcium, which keep you hydrated and support important bodily functions — such as muscle contractions and nervous system upkeep.
3. Pure water is essential for your kidneys because they filter around 200 quarts of fluid daily.
4. Electrolyte solutions and rehydration drinks contain sodium and potassium that are lost during alcohol consumption.
5. And when ADH release is suppressed, your body’s natural mechanism for holding onto fluid ceases to function.
6. “Due to molecule by molecule variation in solubility in water, this can cause certain flavors to be more ‘visible’ to the nose, particularly those that are drowned by the alcohol at higher strength,” Fraser says.

Alcohol Detox: Guidelines for Successfully Detoxifying from Alcohol

Creatine is a normal byproduct of muscle function, and urea is a byproduct of amino acid and protein breakdown. In addition, soaking in water can combat an elevated temperature due to alcohol withdrawal. Soak in tepid water to reduce your temperature and help you feel more comfortable as you recover. Water is necessary for the normal function of every cell in the human body. It is a solvent that helps cells use and transport oxygen and vital nutrients.

Tips for Increasing Your Water Intake During Alcohol Detox

They quibble over the concept of terroir in whiskey, turn their nose at bottlings that are chill-filtered, and debate whether age is indicative of quality. On the other hand, sugar-filled drinks made from artificially flavored mixes could dry you out even more. With tomato juice, a celery stick as garnish, and plenty of ice, a Bloody Mary can actually help hydration more than hinder it. Most importantly, be sure to pregame with water before leaving home. Drinking water after each boozy beverage will have little benefit if you start your night with an empty tank. “It helps refresh our guests, so they’re sat there feeling brighter and more lively,” says Cullimore.

Many people wonder about water and its ability to help with alcohol detox. Although everyone knows water is vital for sustaining life, you may be surprised to learn the role it can play in your recovery. Water helps flush toxins from the body and keeps you from dehydrating.

What Causes a Hangover?

ContactGet in touch with our experts and start enjoying the very best in water. Tyler Zielinski is one of the industry’s leading drinks writers, using his professional bartending and cocktail development experience to inform his written work. In addition to Food & Wine, Tyler has been published in PUNCH, Liquor.com, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, Wine Enthusiast, and more. In 2022, he was shortlisted as an emerging talent in spirits communication by the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) for his exceptional work in his field. Good news — the tropical vacation mainstay can help out with hydration, depending on the recipe. Instead of chowing down on sodium-filled bar snacks, refresh yourself with hydrating fruits and veggies.

Even if you have access to water throughout the day, it’s easy to get busy and forget to drink. Setting multiple alarms on your phone reminding you to drink water will help you stay hydrated properly so that detox will be less taxing on your body. Keeping a water bottle with you at all times is a great way to stay hydrated during detox. Although reaching for a sugary beverage can be tempting, it won’t be as effective at rehydrating you as water.

It decreases the body’s production of the anti-diuretic hormone, which is used by the body to reabsorb water. With less of this hormone available, the body loses more fluid by increased urination. Switching to alcoholic drinks with less volume, such as shots, won’t help with frequent urination either because the diuretic element of the alcohol is what causes the issue and not the actual volume of the alcohol you are drinking. The reason alcohol dehydrates you is that alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes you to use the bathroom more often.

But the type of alcohol you choose affects how dehydrated you become. “The darker the beverage or higher the alcohol by volume (ABV) concentration, the more dehydrating it can be,” says New York City-based addiction specialist Aaron Sternlicht, LMHC, CASAC. By tasting the whiskey at various ABVs as you dilute it — and, in turn, transform its chemical structure — you can better understand the flavors and textures at play. “Really, it is about the individual whisky and the individual person that determines whether you add water or not…there’s no precise method, it is what you feel is right for the liquid,” says Davies. Studies have proven those who go through medical detox are more likely to stay sober than those who go through it alone. Water helps remove the waste products from the blood in the form of urine.