Bad news today for those of us who are about to leave the office and sink a few liveners in celebration of the prospect of four days of wall-to-wall nosh and booze: hangover cures don't work and the only way to avoid a head like a breezeblock is not to drink in the first place.

That, says Reuters, is the conclusion of a crack team from the Peninsular Medical School at Exeter University which tested pretty well every conceivable concoction - from aspirin to prickly pear - but found all of them ineffective.

Today's British Medical Journal carries the team's stark declaration: "No compelling evidence exists to suggest that any complementary or conventional intervention is effective for treating or preventing alcohol hangover. The most effective way to avoid the symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover is thus to practise abstinence or moderation."

Yes, yes, of course we will - right after Xmas and New Year. We promise. ®

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• Bill Gates builds massive booze factory (15 May 2006)
• Reduce your risk of alcohol-related injury: stay drunk (22 February 2006)
• Bloke installs PC in whisky bottle (9 February 2006)
• Xmas parties: avoid sex, drugs and booze (7 December 2005)
• Boffins quantify beer goggles phenomenon (25 November 2005)
• Hangovers give UK biz a headache (23 August 2004)