For American readers it’s the day after Thanksgiving aka Black Friday. And for everyone else party season is upon us so here’s a foolproof guide to dealing with work after a heavy night out.
Turning up to work hungover as a bartender was a point of pride amongst the team, as calling in sick was shameful especially if everyone else saw you at the bar next door till 3am. Funnily enough the bar was a great place to suffer a hangover if you timed it well, plenty of caffeine & full fat soft drinks on demand to keep the morale up, no judgement for fixing a bloody mary (or two) and being hungover on a sunday which was quiet anyway, and probably needed someone to sort out the cellar.
3 hours, in a dark chilled room with no-one to annoy me? Dream hangover cure.
my best work friendships were forged in the wake of many a hangover from a team happy hour. most of these friends are now actual friends, no work required!
This made me both laugh out loud and wince! My heavier drinking days are behind me (hello menopause 👋🏻) but I remember them well (ish..)
I used to work in the film industry and we had a section of the set called the Pharmacy where suffering crew could take a medicinal shot of booze to get over the night before …
The one thing that never (and I mean never) let me down in my drinking days was a Kir royal. Even rescued me from the worst hangover of my life (which had included a visit to a chemical weapons lab, don’t ask). Always made the clouds part and the sun shine. I’m not saying it was healthy, just effective in the short term.
Thank you for your service soldier. It will not be forgotten! A very timely and compassionate piece Mr J. BTW Office Parties are a big thing again. Just ask London restaurateurs and try and get a table at a decent eatery in December!
Not for nothing is a can of coke known as the Little Red Ambulance. Besides the sugar/caffeine, I am assured (by a bona fide scientist) that the phosphoric acid content is actually v good for your stomach.
And don't discount the restorative power of HP sauce.
Love this. A full fat coke is I agree medicinal. Something about realigning the stomach acid if you feel sick (I’m sure I read that somewhere). Your hangovers sound like quite a nice acid trip, with the spiders! I once (ok twice) had a hangover so bad that I stumped up for a nurse to come over with an IV drip as we awkwardly watched homes under the hammer together.
Man... if I have more than 2 glasses of wine I'm going to spend the next day tossing my cookies and in pain like I ate a box of razor blades. Am I abnormal or are you just tougher than me?
Turning up to work hungover as a bartender was a point of pride amongst the team, as calling in sick was shameful especially if everyone else saw you at the bar next door till 3am. Funnily enough the bar was a great place to suffer a hangover if you timed it well, plenty of caffeine & full fat soft drinks on demand to keep the morale up, no judgement for fixing a bloody mary (or two) and being hungover on a sunday which was quiet anyway, and probably needed someone to sort out the cellar.
3 hours, in a dark chilled room with no-one to annoy me? Dream hangover cure.
The office hangover is one of our most sacred cultural institutions. It needs protecting at all costs.
As I was posting this, I was thinking how much is this relevant now that office parties are fewer and people don't go into the office much anyway.
my best work friendships were forged in the wake of many a hangover from a team happy hour. most of these friends are now actual friends, no work required!
This made me both laugh out loud and wince! My heavier drinking days are behind me (hello menopause 👋🏻) but I remember them well (ish..)
I used to work in the film industry and we had a section of the set called the Pharmacy where suffering crew could take a medicinal shot of booze to get over the night before …
Heady times😂
Publishing in the 00s, it felt like there was a party every night. Great fun but really glad to have slowed down in middle age.
The one thing that never (and I mean never) let me down in my drinking days was a Kir royal. Even rescued me from the worst hangover of my life (which had included a visit to a chemical weapons lab, don’t ask). Always made the clouds part and the sun shine. I’m not saying it was healthy, just effective in the short term.
I'll have to try the Kir Royale next time.
Thank you for your service soldier. It will not be forgotten! A very timely and compassionate piece Mr J. BTW Office Parties are a big thing again. Just ask London restaurateurs and try and get a table at a decent eatery in December!
Great to hear!
Smashing piece. This time of year makes me wish I worked in an office again, sometimes. As a refinement of the cola remedy, there's boiled Coke with ginger and lemon (https://www.seriouseats.com/boiled-coke-ginger-lemon-hong-kong-recipe).
Yes almost makes me wish I had a proper job. Almost.
Not for nothing is a can of coke known as the Little Red Ambulance. Besides the sugar/caffeine, I am assured (by a bona fide scientist) that the phosphoric acid content is actually v good for your stomach.
And don't discount the restorative power of HP sauce.
Good to have some actual science here.
Speaking as a Scot, IRN BRU is the saviour
Used to drink a lot of Irn Bru in my Oddbins days. Also Fentimen's Ginger Ale - works a treat.
Love this. A full fat coke is I agree medicinal. Something about realigning the stomach acid if you feel sick (I’m sure I read that somewhere). Your hangovers sound like quite a nice acid trip, with the spiders! I once (ok twice) had a hangover so bad that I stumped up for a nurse to come over with an IV drip as we awkwardly watched homes under the hammer together.
You got a nurse in??!! That's some fancy hangover.
You can find anything online.
Man... if I have more than 2 glasses of wine I'm going to spend the next day tossing my cookies and in pain like I ate a box of razor blades. Am I abnormal or are you just tougher than me?
I can manage a bit more than that but I'm generally very careful around spirits especially as a hangover with a four year old is just awful.