ATLANTA (December 20, 2004) - For many people, the holidays mark the most celebrated time of the year. As part of the celebrations, holiday parties abound, which often create tempting opportunities for people to indulge. For some, it's all the great food that goes along with the holidays. For others, celebratory holiday parties create the perfect recipe for having "a few too many" alcoholic beverages, which inevitably lead to having a hangover.

It's no secret that intoxication has a number of immediate negative consequences. Among other things, it impairs judgment, it impairs the ability to do most things and it can bring on a depressed mood. More than 75 percent of alcohol consumers have experienced a hangover at least once; 15 percent have one at least every month; and 25 percent of college students feel symptoms weekly.

HowStuffWorks explains what causes hangover symptoms and examines the science of the popular prevention methods and morning-after remedies. Does the "hair of the dog" remedy actually work? How about black coffee or burnt toast? HowStuffWorks explains the proposed effects and physiological explanations for why these and other supposed cures for the hangover do or don't work.

Finally, for those who do choose to drink this year, HowStuffWorks offers an informed guide to getting through the holidays with minimal hangover pain. How Hangovers Work explains which drinks, in which combinations, are most likely to lead to a hangover and outlines some specific scientifically grounded precautions that can be taken before, during and after drinking.