HOLD MY DRINK FOR A MOMENT…

Originally Published the Week of Feb. 1, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications

          They say no good story starts with the phrase,”We stopped in for one glass of white wine.”

          However, lots of stories, both good and bad, start with, “Let’s just have one margarita!”

          As the owners of a beachfront restaurant/bar in La Paz for almost 15 years and hosting fishing clients for almost 30, we’ve witnessed a lot of alcohol-related stories.  Most have been good.

          Just fun.  Folks having a good time on a well-deserved and long-anticipated vacation where the sand is warm, the waters are blue and the drinks are icy cold.

          Other stories?  Well…maybe not so good. 

         Usually, alcohol pain is “self-inflicted.”  As much as one can joke that you’re just a “victim,” no one forces you to down another shot or order another umbrella drink.

          And I can’t tell you how often, I’ve heard, ”Hold my drink for me for a minute.”  Promptly followed by some questionable lapse of judgement.

          I’ve always suspected that some drinks get you “more drinker” than others.  Or are more conducive to the dreaded hangover.

          Likewise, there are so many myths regarding avoidance and cure of the hangover.  Of course, you can simply abstain from drinking.   

         Not much fun in that. 

          First things first.  Obviously, the more you drink and the frequency at which you consume the drinks will have an effect. Likewise, the more alcohol in the drink will have an effect.

          However, all things being equal, drinks with bubbles will get you there quicker.  Therefore, drinks like champagne or drinks where you add a carbonated beverage like soda will hit your bloodstream faster.

          Consider this as well about the alcohol content of the liquor itself.  Tequila runs about 40-50% alcohol.  Vodka and rum can go 60-95% while gin and whiskey run between 30 and 50%

          By comparison a beer while top at 4-6% and wine about double that.

          So, how do you help keep a lid on getting totally blitzed?

          You’ve got nothing to prove.  Sip instead of chug. Sip instead of doing shots. 

          Water and food are your friends. Eating before drinking helps slow down alcohol absorption in your system. 

         Drinking water before, in-between, and after drinks helps to keep you hydrated and helps your body better absorb alcohol.  Additionally, it helps you slow down your drinking.

         Well…assuming you forgot all about that and you passed the point of no return.  The party is over and you’re feeling 10 feet tall and bullet proof. 

          Or not.  You know you’re headed down the rabbit hole.

Two rules.

          Don’t drive, knucklehead.

          Second, there is nothing…absolutely nothing you can do to lower your blood alcohol level.  What’s in there is in there. 

          You drank it…own it.   And hope there’s not breathalyzer in your immediate future.

          A cold shower might suddenly jerk you into feeling alert, but that doesn’t mean you’re any less intoxicated or impaired.  

          Same with coffee.  It might make you look and feel alert enough to fool someone, but your blood alcohol will still be the same.

          Either one is only temporary anyway.  You may still end up praying at the porcelain alter anyway and barking like the proverbial seal aka “throwing up.”

          Water and lots of it is the best thing you can do for yourself.  And lots of sleep.  Or, assuming you’re ambulatory and not walking like Gumby, exercise is also good. 

          But, in reality, few of us think of exercising after a good party.

          Now, assuming you make it through the night.  And here it comes…the hammer of the gods…your hangover.

          A few myths. 

         Those sugary drinks you had at the cantina did not make the hangover worse.  They only made the drinks taste better so you drank more of them faster.

          Having another alcoholic beverage (“hair of the dog”) makes no sense either when you wake up.  It might make you feel better for a bit but it will only temporarily return you to your happy place.  The hangover is still coming.

          Many us us grew up grabbing an aspirin or ibuprofen before hitting the rack for the night or first thing the morning-after.  It makes sense. 

          Grab a pain reliever from the medicine cabinet. 

          However, doctors say that ultimately, pain relievers can add more acidic irritation to your stomach and guts that you already punished with alcohol. 

          So, what do you do?

          Again, water and food are your best friends on the backside of your evening bender.

Water helps re-hydrate. 

         If you’ve been vomiting in addition to being dehydrated, it really helps to replace lost electrolytes with Gatorade (lots of sugar) or the milder Pedialyte which is often given to babies.

          At our bar in La Paz, we keep a good stock of both but also have found packets or tablets of straight electrolytes dissolved in a bottle of water work wonders without the added sugar.

          Frankly, they’re great anytime someone is feeling dehydrated.

          As far as food, skip the greasy lumberjack special or the taco special combination in the morning.  Be kind to your stomach.

          Good carbs such as toast or crackers will make you feel a lot better. Weak chicken broth with some rice or bananas also help the situation.

          Then get back to sleep.

And promise yourself “Never ever again will I…”

That’s my story!

Jonathan

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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico  www.tailhunter.com.

They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront.  If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com

Or drop by the restaurant to say hi.  It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!

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Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

Website: 

www.tailhunter-international.com

Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico

U.S. Mailing Address:  Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA  91942

Phones: 

from USA : 626-638-3383

from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

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Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:  http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g

“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”