Having a great night out is often followed by having a bad morning in, when you feel decidedly unwell with a thumping head. TAMASH LAL finds out what can be done to help the condition

IT MIGHT be an occasion for goodwill to mankind, but Christ- mas is also a time for thermo-nuclear strength hangovers.

There cannot be many among us who haven't overindulged on festive spirit only to regret it the next morning when the children are screaming for their presents and the in-laws are arriving.

We all know the symptoms . . . your head feels like Pavarotti is using your cerebral cortex as a trampoline, you are convinced that someone has filled your mouth with sand during the night while your body feels as if you've done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson.

To help Advertiser readers avoid feeling like death on Christmas morning we've compiled a few choice cures for this condition.

The best advice, obviously, is to drink in moderation.

But this appears to be at odds with the current binge drinking culture, which has set alarm bells ringing at the highest levels of Government.

Research shows that we Brits are the worst binge drinkers in Europe.

And British females have a particularly bad record.

New figures show that British women are the biggest boozers in Europe, each consuming more than 200 alcoholic drinks a year the equivalent of five bottles of wine a week.

Try one of John's concoctions for relief after a heavy night

Regulars at the Beehive on Prospect Hill have their hangovers banished by one of pub manager John Somers' Virgin Marys.

A Bloody Mary without the vodka, this consists of tomato juice, Worcester and tabasco sauce, salt, pepper and a dash of cream sherry.

John, 50, said: "Luckily, I don't suffer from hangovers, but this is what I recommend when my customers come in bleary eyed at lunchtime.

"It's very drinkable when you're feeling delicate, and the sherry just gives it a nice smooth finish.

"You only need a quarter of a measure."