The effects of alcohol can last up to 72 hours if you drink enough to have a BAC above 0.06. That means you could still feel the effects of Saturday’s drinks on Tuesday, affecting your ability to work on Wednesday.  You should also be aware of the individual and community health risks from alcohol.

Here are some of the prolonged effects of alcohol:

• Poor quality of sleep due to disrupted REM cycles: A lack of good sleep not only makes you tired but also impacts your memory and learning.  Research has shown that this effect of drinking can negatively impact academics.
• Suppressed immune system and inflammatory response: It could take you longer to heal from injuries and you might be more susceptible to getting sick.
• Decreased reaction time and impaired attention: You’ll process information more slowly.
• Depletion of nutrients: These important resources become limited since your body uses them to help process the alcohol. You’ll feel the impact while you recover— feeling tired, thirsty, and dizzy. This effect can negatively impact athletic performance.

It’s also important to remember that the higher your BAC, the longer it will take for your body to process it. If you go to bed with a very high BAC, depending on how you long you’re asleep, you may still wake up with a BAC above 0.

The only cure for a hangover is time, so hangover tips won’t sober you up more quickly. They just might make recovery a bit easier. The best way to prevent a hangover is by not drinking. If you choose to drink, try keeping your BAC below a 0.06 to decrease your likelihood of a hangover. Rehydrating with water after drinking does help with dehydration from drinking alcohol.