Hey, Before You Hit Your Office Holiday Party, Click Here!

If the dangers of drunkenness don’t deter you from revelry this holiday season, maybe the agony of a hangover should, Newsweek reports. Some experts call the morning-after malaise “a mini-withdrawal” similar to a recovering alcoholic’s; others say it’s the work of chemicals left over from the liver’s breakdown of alcohol; and there’s dehydration and altered sleep patterns to contend with.

It’s best to hold yourself to a drink or two a day, but if you can’t help your holiday cheer, make sure you start the evening with a full stomach, pace yourself with water and snacks, and don’t mix drinks. Forget about drugstore "cures"—they're rarely legit. Next morning, rest, try going for a walk, and eat, though it may be unappealing. (More alcohol stories.)