Ever felt like you could drink vodka all night long and be perfectly happy the next morning but when you have one too many glasses of red wine you can’t even function the next day? Well according to a study in the BMJ (that’s British Medical Journal, for you non-sciencey folks) some types of alcohol are more likely to make hangovers worse. Apparently the amount of congeners (complex organic molecules) and impurities (read: cheap spirits) are the main causes of the effect. The type of alcohol that caused the most hangover symptoms was brandy, followed by red wine, rum, whiskey, white wine, gin and vodka. Always knew vodka had its merits.

Over the next couple of months, for those of you who may see friends and partners disappearing in droves down to the pub early in the morning, don’t be to alarmed, they’re probably just watching the Ashes. The what, you ask? The Ashes, only the oldest and longest running cricket test match series in history. It’s a rivalry between England and Australia that started back in 1877. Although the series only became known as the Ashes in 1882 when Australia won a dramatic game and the Sporting Times published an obituary for English cricket. The last 150 years have seen some amazing matches and in one of the most dramatic series ever, England won the Ashes last year for the first time in 16 years. Riveting stuff, really. See what the fuss is all about at Devil’s Advocate (G/F 48-50 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, 2865 7271) and Kangaroo Bars (3 locations, 2138 6578). Oh and if you’re not a cricket fan but want to sound like you know what you’re talking about, check out our cheat sheet pitch map to know where the various strangely named positions are.

After a nice healthy stroll in the country park what better way to relax those weary legs than to check out the latest addition to Sai Kung’s pub scene. Known simply as The Boozer (G/F 57 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2792 9311) and with happy hours Monday to Friday from 3pm to 9pm, Saturday from noon to 9pm and Sunday from noon to 7pm, it’s quite aptly named.

“Ring my beeellllllll, ring my bell,” is what the folks over at Typhoon (37 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, 2572 2077) are saying. For $500 you can ring that bell and buy a round of shots for everyone in the bar. You don’t have to be a big shot to ring the bell, anybody at any time can ring it for however many times they like. Haven’t got any friends? It’s a great way to make some new ones.
Slim’s (1 Wing Fing Street, Wanchai, 2528 1661) recently opened just off Star Street, and has made good use of a space, that’s well, slim. Try their most popular drinks: Brooklyn Lager and Brooklyn Pilsner, (HH$28, $38). Or if you’d prefer something with a bit of history, their 3 litre bottle of Chimay ($688), a beer made by Belgian Trappist Monks might hit the spot for you and five of your closest friends.

Head down to Soho and check out Linq (G/F 37-43 Pottinger St, Central, 2971 0680), which opened recently. The relaxed, lounge style setting is perfect to chill out with a few friends, have a few drinks and spend the evening people watching. Noho’s been developing for a while now, and the newest addition to its ranks is Qing (3 Mee Lun St, 2815 6739) restaurant and bar. Time to check out what the fuss is about.

Pad Thai (1/F One Capital Place, 18 Luard Road, Wanchai, 2126 7902), has moved premises, find them on the floor below where you used to go, right upstairs from Delaney’s.

The Xtreme! Hong Kong Pub Race is coming up on November 25, so better get your teams together and enter before the deadline on November 24. It’s not your ordinary pub-crawl, so be prepared to do some wacky, out there stuff. Are you ready for your first roadblock? Then enter your team at www.wanchai.cn or email info@wanchai.cn or call 2976 0812.