A great night out doesn’t have to mean a rough morning after. Whether you're catching up with friends, celebrating something big, or just unwinding after a long week, it’s absolutely possible to enjoy yourself without sacrificing the next day.
The key? Smarter choices before, during, and after your drinks. This guide breaks down the simple steps you can take to support your body—and your plans for tomorrow.
Set a Plan Before the First Drink
Being intentional about your night can help prevent decisions you’ll regret. Before that first sip, decide how many drinks you’ll have, what time you want to head home, and how you’re getting there safely. This isn’t about being strict—it’s about setting yourself up to feel good, both tonight and tomorrow.
Make a Transportation Plan
No night out is worth risking your safety. Always have a safe, sober ride planned in advance—whether it’s a rideshare app, designated driver, or public transportation. An estimated 32 people die in drunk-driving crashes every day in the United States.1
Prepare for Tomorrow Like It’s a Priority
Whether it’s a morning workout, family outing, or brunch with friends—having something you care about on the calendar helps you stay mindful of how you drink tonight and gives you that extra push to make smart choices.
Eat a Full Meal Before or While Drinking
Starting your night with a meal is one of the smartest moves you can make.
Food slows the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream, giving your liver more time to process it, resulting in a lower peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC).2
Eating before drinking also increases the rate at which you metabolize alcohol, likely because it increases blood flow to the liver, boosting enzyme activity.3
Some recommend a balanced meal that includes a combination of protein, fats and carbohydrates, like a burger with sweet potato fries.4 The bottom line is that the presence of food in the stomach helps eliminate alcohol.5
Avoid Drinking on an Empty Stomach
The inverse of this is also true. Drinking alcohol without eating first can lead to faster intoxication and a higher peak BAC, which increases the risk of feeling unwell or losing control more quickly.6
Simply put, drinking on an empty stomach overwhelms your system—making the night less enjoyable and the morning much harder.
Stick to a Slow and Steady Drinking Pace
On average, people can metabolize about one standard drink per hour.7 That means spacing your drinks to a maximum of one drink per hour can help keep your BAC in a manageable range and give your liver the time it needs to fully metabolize.
However, even if you stick to one drink per hour, it is still possible to overwhelm your system with alcohol—especially over an extended period. Listen to your body, and give yourself space to stop or slow down if you’re starting to feel it.
Hydrate Between Drinks
Alternating alcoholic beverages with water is one of the simplest ways to support your body by naturally slowing your drinking pace.
Water Isn’t Just for Dehydration
Even though alcohol doesn’t directly cause dehydration, drinking water is still a smart move. It helps maintain fluid balance, supports your kidneys in filtering out alcohol and its byproducts, and gives your liver more time to do its job.
Skip the Energy Drinks and Stimulants
Mixing alcohol with stimulants like energy drinks is risky business. Caffeine and other stimulants can mask your perception of intoxication, making you feel more alert while your body is still impaired.8 This can lead to overdrinking and higher chances of alcohol-related harm.
Take The Anytime You Drink Vitamin After Your Last Drink
As your night winds down, there’s one more easy step to stack the odds in your favor. Take The Anytime You Drink Vitamin—a doctor-developed, chewable after-drinking supplement that supports your body’s natural alcohol metabolism, replenishes nutrients, and helps you wake up feeling better than you should. It's a smart way to end your night on a high note.
You Can Also Take The Anytime You Drink Vitamin After Before Your First Drink
Heading out? Start strong by taking The Anytime You Drink Vitamin about 30 minutes before your first drink. It's a smart way to kick things off, by supporting your body before your first sip.
The Anytime You Drink Vitamin®
A doctor-developed chewable that supports alcohol metabolism, promotes liver health, and helps you wake up feeling better than you should.*
Shop The Anytime You Drink Vitamin®
Stop Drinking at Least Two Hours Before Bed
Alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, but it can adversely impact the quality of your sleep—especially REM sleep, which is crucial for mental restoration.9 Give yourself at least a two-hour window between your last drink and bedtime for deeper, more restful sleep.
Get a Full Night’s Sleep
Sleep is your body’s best recovery tool. Aim for 7–9 hours to give your brain and body time to reset. Even if you follow every other tip, skimping on sleep can still leave you feeling foggy the next day.
Enjoy Your Nights Out, with H-PROOF
Drinking doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the next day. With a few mindful steps—and a little help from H-PROOF—you can enjoy your night and still feel great the next morning. Keep The Anytime You Drink Vitamin to metabolize alcohol on-hand for every celebration, toast, and night out. Your tomorrow self will thank you.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.