Think Before Ordering These 5 Drinks On A Plane

Think Before Ordering These 5 Drinks On A Plane

Flying can be a drag sometimes, especially on those long hauls where you're crammed in coach with your knees up against the seat in front. A lot of guys like to kick back with a drink to make the time pass quicker, but trust me, not all booze is created equal at 30,000 feet. I've been there – once grabbed what I thought was a harmless option on a red-eye flight, and lets just say I regretted it big time when turbulence hit and my stomach turned upside down. Heres five alcoholic drinks you might wanna think twice about ordering next time you're up in the air.

Bloody Mary

That spicy tomato juice mix sounds like a solid choice for brunch vibes in the sky, but man, the high altitude messes with your taste buds and makes everything taste way saltier and spicier than normal. Plus, all that thick tomato stuff can bloat you up something fierce in a pressurized cabin, leaving you feeling gassy and uncomfortable for hours. Skip it unless you want to spend the flight squirming in your seat instead of relaxing.

Champagne or Sparkling Wine

Sure, the flight attendants push the bubbly to celebrate takeoff, and it feels fancy as hell, but those tiny bottles pack a surprising punch because alcohol hits you harder up there with the lower oxygen levels. You'll get buzzed quicker than you expect, and the carbonation just adds to the dehydration that's already kicking your butt from the dry cabin air. Next thing you know, you're nursing a headache before you even hit cruising altitude.

Dark Rum and Coke

A classic rum and coke seems harmless, like something you'd sip at a ballgame, but dark rum is heavy and sweet, and mixed with all that sugary soda, it's a recipe for feeling sluggish and queasy if the flight gets bumpy. The caffeine in the coke might keep you awake when you wanna nap, and that rich rum can sit heavy in your gut – not ideal when you're stuck in a middle seat with nowhere to go.

Red Wine

Grabbing a plastic cup of cabernet or merlot might feel sophisticated, especially on an international flight, but red wine's tannins dry out your mouth even more in that super dry plane air, and it can give you a nasty hangover faster because of how dehydration amps up the effects. Spill a drop on your shirt during turbulence, and you're stuck smelling like a winery for the rest of the trip – been close to that mess myself, but dodged it.

Whiskey Neat

Going for a straight whiskey on the rocks sounds manly and straightforward, no fuss, but without much mixer to dilute it, the strong proof burns harder and dehydrates you like crazy in the low humidity up there. It can make you feel warm and woozy quick, and if you're trying to sleep it off later, good luck – whiskey hangovers hit different at altitude, leaving you groggy when you land.

Top Recommendation: Gin and Tonic

If you're looking to have a drink up in the sky without regretting it later, man, I'd go with a good old gin and tonic every time. It's crisp, refreshing, and that tonic water helps keep things a bit more hydrating than straight booze – the quinine gives it a nice bite that cuts through the dry cabin air without making you feel bloated or heavy. Plus, the gin hits smooth, gets you relaxed without knocking you out too quick, even though everything feels stronger at altitude cuz of the low oxygen and dehydration kicking in faster. I've pounded a few G&Ts on long flights to Vegas or fishing trips out west, and they always settle the nerves from takeoff jitters or that cramped middle seat bullshit, letting me nod off easier or just chill watching a movie. Way better than something sweet and sugary that leaves you crashing hard, or heavy dark stuff that sits like a rock in your gut when turbulence hits. Just chase it with plenty of water, though – nobody wants to land feeling like crap. If they got lime, throw that in for extra points. Solid choice, fellas.

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