If you've ever thought that a glass of champagne hits you faster than, say, beer, you're not imagining it. It turns out there's a reason why a single toast at your friend's wedding can leave your head spinning.
Boris Tabakoff at the University of Colorado, Boulder, told NPR , "Some of the dizziness you can feel after champagne is due to both the brain getting [a little] less oxygen and also the [effects] of the alcohol at the same time."
Blame it on the bubbles. All of those bubbles in sparkling wine and champagne are nothing more than carbon dioxide. C02 competes with oxygen in our bloodstream, explains Tabakoff, a researcher on the effects alcohol has on the body.
The science behind it is pretty simple. Carbon dioxide increases the pressure in your stomach, which in turn, forces the alcohol out through the lining of your stomach where it's absorbed right into your bloodstream — faster than other adult beverages , according to The Naked Scientist .
So if staying on your feet this New Year's Eve is on the agenda, sip that bubbly slowly. And if avoiding a hangover is important, too, try swapping every other glass of champagne with a glass of water. Alternating beverages can help slow down your consumption and help prevent the dehydration that usually comes with a festive night of drinking.
Read how to prevent that horrible headache at Everybody Craves
.