Robert Calvert dispensed some free advice on hangovers while recently kicking back at a bar.
"Have toast with honey," he suggested. "The sugar in the honey counteracts the booze."
Although it's no panacea, Mr. Calvert's recommended remedy happens to be a sound response to tying one on, according to Dr. Seymour Diamond, executive director of the National Headache Foundation.
"Honey contains a sugar known as fructose," explained Dr. Diamond, "and fructose is a sugar that helps alcohol burn off faster within the body."
While much of the emphasis during the holidays centers on curing a hangover, many medical experts contend the real focus should be on avoiding them in the first place.
The National Headache Foundation, for instance, suggests drinking in moderation, if at all.
If alcohol abstinence isn't an option during the Christmas-New Year's season, there are ways to drink moderately and avoid a hangover.
The National Headache Foundation suggests sipping drinks slowly, while also noting that mixed drinks containing fruit or vegetable juices will probably have less of a detrimental effect than downing straight alcohol.
Once again, said Dr. Diamond, it's the fructose in the juice that helps burn off alcohol faster.
But Dr. Diamond said he is not giving a green light to the avid consumption of a variety of mixed drinks.
"Mixing two different types of alcohol is usually not the healthiest thing in the world to do," he said.
While certain drinks seem to produce headaches more readily (draft beer is sometimes mentioned as a culprit), others tend to have milder aftereffects when consumed in moderation, Dr. Diamond said.
"White wine, the vodkas and the gins are probably the least headache-producing of drinks," said Dr. Diamond, adding that white wines, in particular, "are usually less bothersome than either beer or red wine."
However, any kind of substantial drinking on an empty stomach is not a good idea, according to the Washington, D.C.-based company Training for Intervention Procedures by Servers of Alcohol.
Training official Adam Chafetz said eating food will slow down the rate of alcohol absorption. "Just nibble on stuff," he suggested.
Medical experts do warn against eating a lot of fatty foods to avoid hangovers -- respiratory problems could ensue if the drinker vomits.
Despite all of the tips on hangover prevention, many will imbibe to excess this holiday season -- and pay the price.
Everyone seems to have his or her own cure, including the "hair of the dog" approach, which calls for drinking some more to reduce hangover symptoms.
However, medical experts warn against that solution.
Russell Mankes, an East Coast toxicologist, sees the "hair of the dog" approach as a possible first step toward alcohol dependency.
Dr. Diamond said another bad hangover remedy is excessive consumption of coffee. While conceding one or two cups may help, he said pumping an intoxicated person full of coffee can do more harm than good.
"If you take excessive amounts -- four, five, six cups -- it causes a rebound swelling of the blood vessels and can cause problems," he said.
Mr. Mankes says hot coffee may end up irritating a raw stomach, while also noting that coffee is a diuretic that doesn't serve the cause of rehydrating a dehydrated body after heavy drinking.
Another warning from Mr. Mankes: Ibuprofin can irritate a stomach that is already irritated from the drinking.
A hangover remedy he does like, though, is milk, which can soothe a jumpy stomach and furnish nutrients.
Since rehydrating after a drinking binge is important, a drink such as Gatorade can help do the trick and aid in the replacement of important minerals, according to Dr. Diamond.
Bouillon cubes can also be of use.
Another fact to mull over: Recent studies have suggested that a cup of coffee and a couple of aspirins may help when a mild, migraine-like headache is in the works.
Some packaged products also purport to help. One is "XS," which is sold at major drug chains. The liquid formula combines non-aspirin pain reliever, antacids, a coating ingredient for the stomach and caffeine.
Other reported remedies include magnesium, primrose oil capsules and cold pizza.
But Mr. Mankes believes that when all is said and done, there is no real cure for a hangover.
His parting advice: "Drink in moderation."
For those seeking advice on how to handle the holiday headache, the National Headache Foundation can be contacted (800) 843-2256.
Free brochures are available.
HEADING OFF A HANGOVER
If you're having a holiday party at home, there are some things you can do to help your guests prevent hangovers, according to The Training for Intervention Procedures by Servers of Alcohol program:
* Have enough food.
* Hire a professional bartender to serve alcohol or make sure the person serving alcohol is not drinking heavily. Try to see to it that drinks are poured by one person. Control the bar.
* Offer plenty of soft drinks, fruit juices or other alternative beverages.
* Keep guests entertained by providing good food, activities and conversation in a relaxed setting.
* Stop serving alcohol one hour before the party is to end. Offer non-alcoholic drinks.