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Bluefreedom's avatar

I heard a saying in my younger, wilder drinking days that went, "Whiskey then beer have no fear but beer then whiskey is pretty risky." What is your take on this?

Asked by Bluefreedom (22947points) January 28th, 2009

I never drank combinations of alcohol like this together so I don’t know if there is any truth to the statement in my question.

Does anyone know from experience if drinking liquor before beer is more tame than drinking beer followed by liquor and getting hammered in a bad way? Just wondering.

I know if you drink enough you get sloshed no matter what but I’m just curious about what combinations of drinks might be more potent than others.

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33 Answers

NaturalMineralWater's avatar

The real saying should be “Beer and Whiskey are both pretty risky”.

or if you want a real answer… it’s been asked many times before. Here’s one

augustlan's avatar

I don’t think I’ve ever started with whiskey. I have to have a few beers before I even consider wanting a shot of whiskey! I very rarely feel sick or get sloshed drinking that way, so I’d have to say there is no truth to it. Though I do know some people who can’t mix in any order at all.

Vinifera7's avatar

I’ve heard a variation that goes “Beer before liquor: never been sicker. Liquor before beer: you’re in the clear.”

tennesseejac's avatar

Same ‘ol rhyme still puking every time

Sometimes the combination just depends on the person, but there are certain combos that will knock anyone on their ass.

Check out the Drunk Pirate for some tips on drinking

buster's avatar

removed by me

timothykinney's avatar

“Beer before chess leads to success. Chess before beer shoulda had a beer.”

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/030508/beer-before-chess.gif

LKidKyle1985's avatar

Eh anytime you mix different kinds of drinks you get sick more easily than others. I am pretty lucky I can drink what ever I want as long as its not packed with sugar I am usually fine.

Wine3213's avatar

There’s also “Beer before liquor never sicker. Liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.”
It means the same thing. It doesn’t matter to me either way, I never get that sick from drinking.

Wine3213's avatar

@Vinifera7 Good one. Totally missed you saying that.

Jack79's avatar

I assume there is a medical reason for this, and it probably has to do with the fact that beer is fizzy. I remember a doctor friend once telling us how bad it is to mix alcohol with fizzy drinks, or rather drink it after them. Something to do with it going into the bubbles. Not sure though. But I think this is probably what happens with the beer too.

I don’t generally drink anymore and I have never even tasted beer, so I have no personal experiences here (my poison was usually tequila or ouzo and an assortment of schnapps and cocktails).

timothykinney's avatar

@Jack79, with that mess no wonder you stopped drinking.

cyndyh's avatar

I always thought it just had to do with slowing down the alcohol intake instead of speeding it up as the night went on.

basp's avatar

drinking neither will keep one sober.

jbfletcherfan's avatar

Since I’ve never had a beer pass these lips, I couldn’t say. I just stick with one drink at a time per sitting. Either margaritas or White Zinfendel wine. I never mix drinks. And I never get sick.

RandomMrdan's avatar

I think the saying goes like this….“Liquor before beer, you’re in the clear…Beer before liquor will make you sicker”

I could be wrong though. But, I’ve always found that if I have a night of drinking beer, then someone gives me a shot of anything, it has a tendency of making me feel a bit queezy. Whereas if I start the night off with a shot or two, then drink beer from that point out, I’m normally ok.

cak's avatar

It’s all bad, if you drink too much! (I learned the hard way!)

EmpressPixie's avatar

Beer before liquor, never been sicker. I always figured it had to do with rate of drink. If I start with liquor, I’m more likely to sip all night long. If I drink a beer first, I’m more likely to drink faster. So beer then liquor would leave me intaking more alcohol. But I don’t actually know.

Grisson's avatar

I never knew which way was which.
I have also heard. If you’re already drunk, drinking water is a good way to pass out and have a heck of a hangover.

o0's avatar

I have never had a problem with this. I love having both at the same time.

Blondesjon's avatar

Enough talk. I say this calls for some real world testing. I’ll do the drinking part.

Bluefreedom's avatar

@Blondesjon. You have to post all of the results of your test here on Fluther when you’re finished. No matter how embarrasing or weird or illegal the outcome, we want to know about it!

gooch's avatar

Liquer then beer your in the clear. Beer the liquer never been sicker. This is how I heard it and it’s true. You drink more if you drink liquer first so you get sicker.

tennesseejac's avatar

Liquor before beer there is no fear
Beer before liquor your puke will be thicker

Blondesjon's avatar

@Bluefreedom…working on the ‘beer before liquor’ as we speak. I’ll keep you posted.

god, i am such a giver

Vinifera7's avatar

@tennesseejac
I like your variation.

DrasticDreamer's avatar

I’ve also always heard “Liquor before beer and you’re in the clear. Beer before liquor and it makes you sicker” and it generally held true with me. I don’t drink beer anymore, so I don’t have to worry about it anyway.

psyla's avatar

I always drink beer and liquor at the same exact time.

RandomMrdan's avatar

Sake Bombs FtW

MissAnthrope's avatar

From personal experience, beer fills me up, so I can imagine liquor after that (on a full-of-beer stomach) only making me queasy.

I always knew it as “Liquor before beer, never fear. Beer before liquor, never sicker.”

Strauss's avatar

I grew up in a blue-collar family where “shot ‘n’ a beer” was pretty standard fare. That sounds like the “whiskey then beer” or “liquor before beer” part of the rhyme. Usually, though, it was “whiskey then beer, then whiskey then beer, then whiskey then beer then whiskey…then beer…then whiskey…then beer…

meiosis's avatar

Beer after wine – you’ll be fine.
Wine after beer – you’ll feel queer.

I think the basic principle is that decreasing the alcohol content of your drinks as the night progresses will be likely to help your recovery and subsequent level of hangover. Increasing the alcohol content is more likely to make you feel worse the next day.

faye's avatar

Maybe because I’m Canadian, I’ve heard, “rye before beer, never fear/ beer before rye, you’re gonna die”. I’m checking out siblings.

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