The “beer before liquor” rule has no scientific basis.

I am sure you’ve heard “Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.” This is an adage of unknown origin claiming that low alcohol-by-volume (ABV) beverages (like beer) are best imbibed at the end of a night of drinking rather than early on. There are, however, NO scientific studies supporting this myth. Alcohol is absorbed immediately into the bloodstream, so the order in which you drink that alcohol doesn’t really affect your hangover future. The only kernel of truth is in how these drinks affect your decision-making abilities. If you switch to higher ABV beverages (like liquor) late into the evening, your impaired judgment might miscalculate how many drinks you’re actually having. Also, contrary to popular belief, drinking water won’t save you either. At the end of the day, the best advice is to just drink less.  So, as you venture out to your holiday parties, be careful.  Moderation is always best.