What is it? People are getting drip done to get rid of hangover after drinking alcohol!

New Delhi: ‘Tis the season to have fun… even to swoon. The search for the perfect hack to combat a hangover is age-old. Tried everything from aspirin to avocado, hair of the dog to hot baths and even precautionary sips of olive oil. The list of failed hangover cures is long and varied. In this sequence, a new trend of getting drip to cure hangover has emerged. IV drip is becoming quite popular to recover from hangover. Whether it’s trying to ease a pounding headache, nausea or other jitters after a party marathon, people are turning to drips instead of greasy snacks. Yes, the same bags filled with saline, which were once a resource in hospitals. Now it has become a must in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Doctor tried hangover hack

Take Bharat Kumar, a 24-year-old MBBS graduate from Hyderabad. Having a good party is nothing new for him/her. Dehydrated, feverish and bedridden after a special night out. he/she saw a reel on The Hangover IV and decided to give it a try.

he/she says that as a doctor, I wanted to see whether it works or is it just another trendy gimmick. My friend had to carry me the first time, but it worked out pretty fast. Since then, the clinic, located 25 minutes away from his/her home, has become Kumar’s hangover hangout.

These drips are straightforward, containing a mixture of electrolytes, multivitamins, zinc, magnesium and medicines. These are delivered directly into the bloodstream. The idea is that the main causes of morning sickness are dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammation.

Trend reached India from America

Anjali Tripathi, director of Revive, introduced the concept in India in 2021. Anjali explains that they provide rapid and complete re-hydration to restore balance at the cellular level. This means that the body absorbs it without any delay.

She links this trend to the high-partying centers of Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami. Revive opened its first clinic in Worli, Mumbai before expanding to Resthouse and Indiranagar in Juhu, Powai and Bangalore. Now eyeing Delhi and other southern cities.

Pop-up IV lounge at weddings

Naveen Kaushik of Avatarlux Estheticians in Bangalore explains how ‘weekend warriors’ come every Saturday and Sunday morning when the festive season arrives. It happens on Diwali, Christmas, NYE… It’s like IV rush hour. Anjali says weddings, especially those lasting several days, are another reason for the surge.

Talking about creating pop-up IV lounges for grand weddings, she says that from the music to the reception, these drips allow guests to keep up with back-to-back events.

‘Feel Batter’ became people’s favorite

For anesthesiologist Dr Mounika Vadlamudi, setting up an IV drip clinic in Hyderabad started out of curiosity when she learned about the industry from friends in the US, but soon she saw more potential. Today, his/her clinic Happy Head treats everything from travel fatigue to vitamin deficiencies, but his/her hangover special, aptly named ‘Feel Better’, remains a firm favourite.

Price ranges from Rs 6 thousand to Rs 35 thousand

The price of these drips starts from Rs 6,000 and can go up to Rs 35,000 depending on the mix. This process takes about 45-60 minutes. While it all sounds very clinical, let’s not forget its cool factor. Mobile IV drip stations or ‘hangover bars’ are becoming a must-have accessory at bachelor parties, concerts, and even Sunday brunch spots.

Think chic lounges with plush seating, soft lighting, soothing music, a team of friendly nurses and drip bags neatly placed on stands. Prem Anand, director of Aesthetic Center New, Bengaluru, says that we have installed mobile IV stations in music festivals. These are mostly in VIP areas or high traffic areas, where event attendees can enjoy a short hydration break.

‘Market inspired gimmick’

However, Dr. Jalil Parkar, senior pulmonologist at Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, does not believe in this craze. Dr. Parker says if a person is dehydrated from diarrhea or has dangerously low sodium or potassium levels, an IV drip is definitely appropriate. But anything beyond that, it is not the right way to treat. Dr. Parker calls it ‘market-driven gimmickry’.

They point out the risks of placing a drip outside the hospital. he/she said, it is possible that no one knows about the internal problems of the person. he/she said a heart patient may have a heart attack from drinking too much, or a person with kidney problems may have sudden death if potassium levels are disturbed.

Dr. Parker says that people have been struggling with hangovers for decades. Did we take drip before? No. Sleep, water, rest – that’s all you need. Or maybe stop drinking alcohol altogether? Now, this is one hangover cure worth raising a glass to.