Does Expensive Alcohol Really Give You Less Hangovers?

Does Expensive Alcohol Really Give You Less Hangovers?

🥃 Does expensive alcohol cause fewer hangovers?

Short answer:
Not necessarily.

Price does not directly determine whether you’ll get a hangover.


🧠 Why people think expensive alcohol is “better”

1. Smoother taste

Higher-quality alcohol may feel:

  • Less harsh
  • Easier to drink

But that doesn’t mean it’s safer.


2. Fewer congeners (sometimes)

Some premium spirits:

  • Contain fewer impurities

But:
👉 You can still get a hangover from ethanol itself.


3. You drink differently

When alcohol is expensive:

  • You sip slower
  • You drink less

That’s the real difference.


⚠️ What actually causes hangovers

  • Total alcohol consumed
  • Dehydration
  • Sleep disruption
  • Acetaldehyde buildup

👉 Not price.


❌ The biggest misconception

“I drank expensive alcohol, so I’ll be fine.”

This usually leads to:
👉 Drinking more than you planned.


✅ What matters more than price

How much you drink

Still the biggest factor.

How fast you drink

Pacing changes everything.

How you prepare

👉 Related: what to take before drinking alcohol


🧃 Smarter drinking > expensive drinking

You don’t need to spend more to feel better the next day.

You just need to:

  • Plan ahead
  • Support your body early

That’s where something like Locohol before drinking makes more difference than the price of your drink.

Back to blog