Will Drinking Caffeine Help a Hangover? The Truth Behind the Morning-After Fix

November 25, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a survey of Dutch students, there is no significant correlation between caffeine use and hangover severity, challenging the popular belief that drinking caffeine can help a hangover. This article delves into the science behind caffeine's effects on the body after alcohol consumption and provides a realistic approach to managing post-drinking symptoms.

Quick Summary

Caffeine offers temporary alertness, but it does not cure or expedite hangover recovery. It can actually worsen dehydration and stomach irritation caused by alcohol. For true relief, focus on hydration, replenishing electrolytes, and rest. Small amounts of caffeine may help prevent withdrawal headaches for regular drinkers, but caution is advised.

Key Points

Caffeine masks symptoms: The stimulant effect of caffeine creates a temporary feeling of alertness but does not address the underlying causes of a hangover.
Caffeine worsens dehydration: Both alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, so coffee can compound dehydration, which is a major contributor to hangover misery.
Stomach irritation increases: Alcohol already irritates the stomach lining, and coffee's acidity can further worsen nausea and discomfort.
No shortcut to sobering up: Caffeine cannot speed up the liver's process of metabolizing alcohol, only time and rest can.
Habitual drinkers face a tradeoff: A small amount of caffeine might prevent a withdrawal headache for regular users, but it can also intensify a dehydration headache.
Effective remedies involve rest and hydration: The most reliable way to recover from a hangover is by rehydrating with water and electrolyte drinks and getting adequate rest.

Understanding the Hangover

Before diving into caffeine's role, it is essential to understand what causes a hangover. Hangovers are complex and result from several physiological factors triggered by excessive alcohol consumption.

Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes increased urination and fluid loss, leading to headaches, thirst, and fatigue.
Toxic byproducts: The liver processes alcohol into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that contributes to nausea and general malaise.
Sleep disruption: Alcohol can induce drowsiness but disrupts normal sleep architecture, leading to fragmented and low-quality rest.
Stomach and gut irritation: Alcohol inflames the stomach lining, while caffeine increases stomach acid, potentially worsening nausea and upset stomach.
Inflammation: Excessive drinking can trigger inflammatory responses throughout the body.

The Deceptive Alertness of Caffeine

While a strong cup of coffee might seem like the perfect solution for morning-after grogginess, its stimulant effects are often misleading. Caffeine acts on the central nervous system to increase alertness, which can make you feel more awake. However, this masks the underlying fatigue and does nothing to eliminate the toxins your body is working to process. The feeling of being 'perked up' can create a false sense of sobriety and may lead to poor judgment.

The Negative Impact of Caffeine on Hangovers

Instead of curing your hangover, caffeine can actually exacerbate several key symptoms. Its diuretic properties, which increase urination, compound the dehydration already caused by alcohol. For individuals already prone to anxiety or a rapid heart rate during a hangover, the added stimulant effect can increase jitters, anxiety, and heart palpitations.

A Comparison: Caffeine vs. Water for Hangovers


Feature	Caffeine (e.g., Coffee)	Water & Electrolyte Drinks	Outcome on Hangover
Hydration	Acts as a diuretic, increasing urination and worsening dehydration.	Rehydrates the body and restores lost fluids.	Caffeine worsens dehydration; Water improves it.
Fatigue	Masks grogginess with a temporary stimulant effect.	Does not directly combat fatigue but supports the body's natural recovery.	Caffeine provides a temporary lift; Water supports overall recovery.
Stomach Effects	Increases stomach acid, potentially worsening nausea and irritation.	Gentle on the stomach and helps soothe digestive upset.	Caffeine irritates; Water soothes.
Headache	Can help a regular user avoid a caffeine withdrawal headache, but can also worsen a dehydration headache by constricting blood vessels.	Directly combats dehydration, a major cause of hangover headaches.	Caffeine is a double-edged sword; Water is beneficial.
Sobering Up	Provides a false sense of alertness but does not accelerate the metabolism of alcohol.	Does not speed up the process of sobering up.	Neither option speeds up sobering, but caffeine masks impairment.
Crash	Can lead to a harder crash as the temporary stimulating effects wear off.	No crash, as it simply aids the body's natural healing process.	Caffeine leads to a subsequent crash; Water provides stable recovery.

The Special Case for Regular Coffee Drinkers

For daily coffee consumers, skipping the morning cup could trigger caffeine withdrawal, which includes its own set of unpleasant symptoms like headaches. In this scenario, a small, diluted cup of coffee consumed after rehydrating with water can help mitigate the withdrawal headache without overly exacerbating the hangover. However, this is treating a secondary issue, not the root hangover itself. For non-habitual coffee drinkers, it is best to avoid caffeine completely and focus on other, more effective strategies.

Conclusion: Time and Hydration are the True Cures

While the idea that drinking caffeine will help a hangover is a tempting myth, the reality is far more complex. Caffeine offers a temporary jolt of energy that masks fatigue but actively works against the body's recovery process by worsening dehydration and irritating the stomach lining. The only genuine cure for a hangover is time, allowing your body to metabolize the alcohol, and strategic hydration. By focusing on replenishing fluids and electrolytes with water or sports drinks, eating gentle carbohydrates, and getting rest, you will support your body's natural healing process much more effectively than reaching for a quick-fix cup of coffee. To learn more about effective hydration, visit the Cleveland Clinic website.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, drinking coffee does not sober you up faster. It can make you feel more alert, but it has no effect on your blood alcohol concentration or the rate at which your liver metabolizes alcohol.

Coffee can make a hangover feel worse by increasing dehydration and irritating the stomach lining. It can also cause a further increase in blood pressure, which might amplify a headache.

Water and electrolyte-rich beverages are the best alternatives. They help combat dehydration, which is a primary cause of hangover symptoms, without the negative side effects of caffeine.

Decaf coffee is a better option than regular coffee as it lacks caffeine, which can worsen dehydration and stomach upset. However, water or herbal tea remains the superior choice for rehydration.

No, energy drinks are not recommended. They contain high levels of caffeine and sugar, which can further dehydrate you, increase heart rate, and place more stress on your system.

Combining coffee with ibuprofen is sometimes suggested to relieve headaches, as caffeine can constrict blood vessels. However, both can irritate the stomach, and it's best to consult a healthcare provider before combining medications.

For regular coffee drinkers, a cup of coffee can prevent a caffeine withdrawal headache, which can be mistaken for hangover relief. For others, the temporary boost in alertness simply masks the underlying fatigue without addressing the root cause.