Why we get hangovers
The chemical cause of the morning after the night before
Hangovers are the result of the consumption of ethanol, C2H6O, which is found in beers, wines and spirits. Ethanol has a wide range of effects on the body, such as dehydration, sleep deprivation and changes to the cardiovascular and endocrine (hormone) systems – all of which could play a role in making us feel ill in the morning.