Welcome Week can be a daunting time for freshers. The need to fit in or make the most of your freedom can easily turn into a not-so-welcome week – and most of you won’t have your parents present to guide you.    

Getting stuck into freshers’ activities is a rite of passage that you’ll likely regret not taking part in, but there are just a few things to keep in mind when thinking about going all in for Welcome Week.   

The idea of curing hangovers might be a bit of a myth. While there are ways to cope with and ignore a hangover, a nasty one is going to set you back either way. People will always give you their personalised cure to a hangover, some are logical and appealing, with others being downright odd.   

The late, great Anthony Bourdain offered a solution of aspirin, “cold Coca-Cola”, and “spicy Szechuan food”, among other things. My closest friend always opts for a cigarette and yet more booze; hair of the dog does not work, it just delays the hangover and I vehemently dissuade you from trying it. Lastly, my mother always recommends a banana, ibuprofen, and a pint of water.   

A solution along the lines of my mother’s is the one I tend to go for. However, avoid swapping the ibuprofen with paracetamol or Tylenol – not for the reasons a certain orange man will give you – but for the fact that when mixed with alcohol, paracetamol can stress or damage your liver. This solution is well recommended as it can often totally prevent the nausea and headaches.

However, it’s not the only preventative action you can put into your night. I drink water for every pint I have; and while it does make the loo my best friend for the night, it’s better than acquainting yourself with the toilet for the whole morning after.   

It seems obvious, but enjoy your alcoholic beverage, necking every drink you have will cause you to drink more, which is unfortunate for your body and your bank account – just don’t enjoy beer as much as me, otherwise, you’ll find yourself developing a rather expensive hobby trying every Belgian beer under the sun.  

We have to talk about caffeine when diving into hangovers. Some swear by it, others swear it off. If you tend to religiously consume coffee, going without the caffeine could make you feel more nauseous, so have a cup to stop the withdrawal. But if you don’t naturally reach for coffee on a regular morning then skip it as coffee is mild diuretic and will slow rehydration.   

I made sure I was writing this part hungover, in order to see if I’d take my advice. I’m pleased to say that I’ve done everything I recommend, the only point of contention being food.

I needed to eat something soon after I woke up, but it had to be bland and carby. If I hadn’t eaten nausea would’ve set in, but if I’d eaten too much the same would happen. I also wanted a bacon bap, but the smells from cooking it would also be nausea inducing, so I begrudgingly met with the cool morning air to venture out to my favourite market stall where I knew a bacon sandwich smothered in ketchup would be waiting for me.

The mix of fresh air, familiar food, and lots of water was simply all I required along with some ibuprofen after I’d eaten. Familiarity seemed to be the key, and maybe spicy Szechuan food wouldn’t have had the desired effect on me – perhaps I’ll have to experiment next time. 

Image credit: Thomas Byrne