GUIDE: Helpful ways to survive the 12 Pubs of Christmas

Many of us have had enough of survival over the last two years, but plenty are still up for a bit of punishment on a 12-pub trek this Christmas season. The beauty of the challenge is you can quit any time (risking, of course, some mild scorn from boozed-up friends), but help is available for those of us hoping to see something to its end. 

Certain commitments are required to participate in the tradition, including donning Christmas garb like festive jumpers or novelty t-shirts (the best choice, as pubs can get very hot this time of year!) and following a couple of rudimentary and often changeable rules, the most important of which is to have a drink at each destination. 

Although alcohol is usually the tipple of choice, it isn't a deal-breaker for participation. Whether it's a virgin daiquiri or one of the many new non-alcoholic offerings on the market, nobody sound will care as long as you're good craic!

However, if you are planning on drinking alcohol, there are things you can do to keep the dreaded next-day fear at
bay. 

Do a little math beforehand
Opt for drinks with low-alcohol counts, like 3.5% or below. The HSE recommeds eleven standard drinks for women and 17 for men spread out over the course of a week; while we don't encourage anyone to surpass this amount, we're also aware that anyone partaking in 12 Pubs isn't necessarily going to follow official health advice.

If this applies to you, at least try to keep units of alcohol consumed to a minimum. This will be friendly on your wallet and your liver, and you can make a good attempt by sticking to spritzers, alcopops and half-pints.

Eat a proper dinner
Eating food won't prevent intoxication, but alcohol is absorbed slower when there's food in your stomach before drinking. Make sure to eat up, but stay clear of salty foods like chips and crisps in favour of bananas and yogurt. They certainly aren't the foods that come to mind when you think of a night out, but they may just help halt a hangover in its tracks.

It's a marathon, not a sprint
Take your time with each drink, particularly those with a high alcohol content. And avoid drinking alcohol when you're thirsty in order to prevent dehydration. It sneaks up on you quickly and can worsen next-day headaches! Aim to consume no more than twelve alcoholic drinks and you'll enjoy them all the more.

Don't get comfortable in the one place
Twelve Pubs takes a long time to complete even without dragging your heels at each venue. And if you get too comfortable, your group might order other drinks which can set off a chain reaction of rounds. You've set your drinks limit so make sure to stick to it. Adding extra isn't going to help you get to the twelfth pub! 

Take a snack break
Nobody said you had to trek to one venue after another without any interruptions. Pack small snacks to take with you and munch throughout the evening, or choose a pub which serves food so you can order sides for the table as needed. 

Drink water
Although whiskey is touted as "the water of life", don't forget to drink the real thing. It's the most important item on the menu and can mean the difference between a merry buzz and slurred speech. One drink of water with each drink of alcohol is a great way of ensuring you'll make it to the coveted twelfth and final pub of the evening.

Forget the rules
If you want a good festive time without any alcoholic consequences, throw out the rules entirely and drink nothing but orange juice and 0% beers the whole evening. You'll get more than your fair share of vitamin C - a great immunity booster for the season that's in it - and none of the hangover the next day. A wise choice! Whatever you decide, make sure to be safe and know your limits this Christmas season.