Many people in their thirties and beyond notice that hangovers seem more severe than they were in their youth. According to experts, this is not just a matter of perception—biological changes in the body are responsible.
Adam Taylor, professor of anatomy at Lancaster Medical School, explains that the liver's ability to metabolise alcohol declines with age. The liver produces fewer enzymes needed to break down alcohol, leading to a buildup of toxic byproducts such as acetaldehyde, which causes many hangover symptoms.
Additionally, the body's water content decreases by about 5% after age 55, partly due to loss of muscle mass. This means alcohol becomes more concentrated in the bloodstream, and dehydration—a key factor in hangover headaches and grogginess—has a stronger effect. Kidney function also declines, slowing the removal of waste products and prolonging their impact.
While there is no way to prevent hangovers from worsening, Professor Taylor suggests alternating alcoholic drinks with water and adhering to recommended weekly limits. Once a hangover sets in, he notes that time, water, and paracetamol are the only remedies.
