Scientists discover way to make alcohol with less severe hangovers

Scientists have discovered a way to make alcohol which causes less severe hangovers and allows drinkers to sober up more quickly.

A study found that increasing the oxygen content in alcohol enabled people to process alcohol more rapidly and therefore avoid some of its negative effects.

Oxygen is used to process alcohol in the body and turn it into water and carbon dioxide.

By increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcoholic drinks it is possible to help the body do the job, the study found.

Researchers carried out a series of tests with volunteers drinking beverages enriched with different amounts of oxygen.

Their blood-alcohol levels were then tested and it was found that alcohol was processed significantly quicker with drinks that had a higher oxygen content.

Professor Kwang-il Kwon, author of the study, said: "The oxygen-enriched alcohol beverage reduces plasma alcohol concentrations faster than a normal dissolved-oxygen alcohol beverage does.

"This could provide both clinical and real-life significance. The oxygen-enriched alcohol beverage would allow individuals to become sober faster, and reduce the side effects without a significant difference in alcohol's effects.

"Furthermore, the reduced time to a lower blood alcohol concentration may reduce alcohol-related accidents."

The scientists are based at Chungnam National University in Korea.

The study is published in the May 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.