Water for a hangover? We’ll drink to that

THEY may have a reputation for harddrinking but it appears Scots are pretty robust when dealing with a hangover.

Their ‘keep calm and carry on’ attitude sees fewer resorting to painkillers than anywhere else in the UK, according to a new survey. Only 39 per cent of Scots would pop an aspirin or paracetamol, compared with the UK average of 46 per cent.

The region most likely to take painkillers is London, with 51 per cent using them as a hangover cure. In contrast, a greasy fry-up is more popular north of the Border than anywhere else in the UK. Of the 2,000 surveyed by YouGov, 32 per cent of Scots would eat a fried breakfast, or other greasy food, to ease their hangover, while the UK average is 27 per cent. They are also more likely to turn to high-carb food such as toast.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who is originally from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, has previously revealed his hangover cure of choice is a more healthy dish.

He once said: ‘I’ll get a cab home, safe in the knowledge that my wife Tana will have bought in all the ingredients for a kedgeree to fend off the next morning’s hangover.

‘It’s the best, as the slight stodginess soaks up any remaining Southern Comfort. It’s not a 100 per cent cure but then we’re supposed to suffer a little… aren’t we?’

Eleven per cent of Scots would turn to more alcohol to help get rid of a hangover, while the same percentage of Londoners also try ‘the hair of the dog’.

But plain water is the number one solution – with 74 per cent of those surveyed in Scotland choosing it in an attempt to ease symptoms.

Stephanie Frost, research manager at YouGov Omnibus, said: ‘How far drinking water – or any other cure – actually helps is up for debate, but with fewer than one in ten people willing to grin and bear their morning-after misery, whoever does finally discover the cure to hangovers will be a very popular person indeed.’

Other solutions offered across the UK were drinking coffee or sports drinks and taking vitamins.