Intoxication with bourbon versus vodka: effects on hangover, sleep, and next-day neurocognitive performance in young adults.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized crossover trial evaluating different alcoholic beverages and placebo.
PubMed 20028364 · doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.01116.x
What was done
Ninety-five healthy heavy drinkers aged 21 to 33 participated in a randomized crossover study with an acclimatization night followed by two drinking nights. Participants consumed either bourbon (high congener) or vodka (low congener) to reach a target mean breath alcohol concentration of 0.11 g%, alongside a matched placebo condition, with beverage type and order randomized. Overnight sleep was measured with polysomnography, and self-reported hangover severity and neurocognitive tests of sustained attention and speed were assessed the following morning.
What was found
Alcohol consumption reduced sleep efficiency and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and increased wake time and next-day sleepiness. Alcohol also produced decrements in sustained attention and speed tasks the following day, which correlated with subjective hangover severity. Congener content did not affect sleep architecture or cognitive performance, but bourbon produced significantly more severe hangover symptoms than vodka. Sleep disruption correlated with hangover but did not mediate next-day performance impairment. Virtually no sex differences were observed. The abstract reported no exact numerical scores, effect sizes, or p-values.
Why it matters
While higher congener beverages worsen the subjective feeling of a hangover, they do not exacerbate next-day neurocognitive deficits compared to lower-congener drinks. Impairment is driven by the alcohol dose itself, meaning choosing low-congener beverages does not lower next-day safety risks in complex tasks like driving.
Limits
The abstract does not report specific numerical values, confidence intervals, or statistical test metrics. The study was restricted to young adult heavy drinkers (ages 21–33), so findings may not generalize to older individuals, light drinkers, or other beverage categories.
Cited by
- supports Drinks rich in congeners, such as brandy, red wine, rum, and whiskey, produce more severe hangovers compared to drinks with fewer congeners like gin, vodka, tequila, and beer.