Separately, 62 per cent of Australians over 25 years old said they feel more empowered to not drink alcohol these days compared to ten years ago, according to not-for-profit organisation DrinkWise.

But what about the short-term effects of alcohol?

Here’s what’s actually happening to our bodies when we’re hungover.

You’re dehydrated

Steve Allsop, a professor at the National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University, highlights that while water won’t cure your hangover, it will help prevent dehydration, which might make you feel marginally less bad.

You’re anxious

Throw in some stress and sleep deprivation, and you’re in for low moods and a very anxious morning.

Your liver function changes

“When alcohol is metabolised, it can lead to deposition of fat in the liver. In some people, drinking alcohol can lead to inflammation and scarring in the liver.”

You’ll have gut problems like nausea and vomiting

Powell said drinking can “lead to some inflammation in the stomach, which makes you feel nauseous and affects your appetite”.

Your sleep is compromised

Allsop said alcohol is a soporific, which means it tends to cause sleepiness and lethargy and dulls your awareness. But it also means your sleep is fragmented and lower quality with little rapid eye movement sleep, so you won’t wake up feeling refreshed.

Inflammatory responses make you feel even worse

“However, in the case of a hangover, this inflammation can worsen symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, fatigue and sensitivity to light and sound,” they said. “The body’s heightened immune response amplifies these discomforts, making the hangover feel more intense.”

Unfortunately, there’s no mythical hangover cure. But lots of water and nutritious food might help make it less painful. Source: Getty / Grace Cary

Is there a hangover cure?

“Unfortunately, the only cure is abstinence,” Powell said.