If you’re celebrating with family tomorrow, this is what to drink

Remember this piece of advice on Christmas day.

As we all know, you see all sorts of family members around Christmas time. Your long-lost cousins, your unruly aunts, your grumpy uncles and just about everyone in between. Some are harder to stand than others (i.e. when your sister leaves you alone with your aunt for a half hour while all she wants to know is if you ‘have a man’ and ‘what are you going to do for your life?’). Ugh. And so, to deal with the awkward and unusual conversations, you probably knock back a drink so you can keep on being your jolly good self. However, according to a new survey, alcohol like whiskey or gin aren't so great to drink, and instead you should opt for a glass of wine. Researchers from the Public Health Wales National Health System Trust and King’s College London surveyed 30,000 drinkers aged between 18 to 34 and found that different beverages cause different reactions. At 53 percent, red wine drinkers reported feeling relaxed, while pint lovers came in second at nearly 50 percent and white wine lovers with nearly 33 percent. And further more, those who adore a Pinot Noir or Shiraz were also the least likely to get weepy at just 10 percent. However, when it comes to spirits, it’s a bit of a different story. Scotch, whiskey and vodka gave 53 percent more confidence when around their family members and 58 percent said they had more energy, however they were also left with a “bad emotional hangover.” Almost half of spirit drinkers felt ill and tearful and 30 percent became more aggressive. So, knocking back a whiskey after dinner probably isn’t the best way to deal with a chatty aunty.