How long should I wait between wine and vodka?

Many of us have been there. We’ve been drinking wine or beer, and a friend or loved one suggests taking shots of vodka. Or maybe you’ve been sipping on wine all evening, but you decide it might be nice to have a vodka cran. That ice cold bottle of Hometown Vodka in the freezer looks pretty appealing. Suddenly, the old adage pops in your head–or maybe someone nearby utters it outloud:

“Wine before liquor, never been sicker.”

This common saying asserts that if you drink wine first, you will have a bad time–maybe you’ll feel sick and suffer a debilitating hangover later. But–is it true?

And, if so–how long do you need to wait after setting down the wineglass before you can enjoy some vodka? You might be wondering:

“How long should I wait between wine and vodka?”

Is it just better to wait until next time? Let’s dive in!

Should you really drink the vodka first?

You might be wondering if it’s OK to mix wine and vodka at all. The good news is that, as long as you’re drinking responsibly, and not overdoing it, it is!

So, what about drinking wine first? Is that ok? If so, how long should you wait? It turns out that the matter has actually been scientifically studied! So, what did they find?

The answer might surprise you: According to this study, first published in 2008, which looked at 172 participants and what they were drinking as well as whether they experienced a hangover the next day, hangovers had little if anything to do with what type of alcohol each person was drinking.

The truth of the matter

You might have guessed this already, but there are other factors that are known to be associated with hangovers and the severity of hangovers. These include things such as dehydration, how well you sleep after drinking, and more. One particularly important factor is drinking itself. The National Institute of Health explains that the more you drink, the more severe your hangover might be.

Why do people say that then?

There are a number of reasons that this myth might persist. For one, any time you start mixing up what you’re drinking, it can become more confusing trying to remember exactly how many you’ve had. This might lead people to believe that their hangover, which was simply caused by overdrinking, was in fact because of the order in which they drank. It also might be because the phrase has simply been repeated so many times that it’s widely accepted as true. Whatever the case, it’s important to remember that it’s just a saying, and the important thing is drinking in moderation.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re enjoying a wonderful rustic red blend, and you’re thinking about enjoying a cold glass of Tito’s and cranberry juice later on–or you’re sipping on a refreshing champagne and thinking about joining in with your friends taking shots of Grey Goose–the most important thing to keep in mind is how much you’ve drank as you make a responsible decision.

And–it never hurts to wait an hour or so. Not because drinking wine first will make things worse–but because that’s potentially a lot of alcohol. It’s always a good practice to put some time between your drinks. This will give your body more time to process the alcohol. It’s also a great time to get some water in! Remember to stay hydrated!

And, whether you’re looking to buy wine online, or buy vodka online, be sure to check out our extensive selection here!