It's that time of year again when people across Sussex are in the party spirit and out to have a good time.

For many, that good time will include more than a few drinks before they fall into the back of a cab and go home.

The most obvious way to avoid a hangover is not to drink alcohol at all but for those who enjoy a drink, there are plenty of steps that can be taken to ease the hangover blues and ensure Christmas and New Year does not have a bad effect on your health.

First and foremost is watch the number of units you drink.

The Department of Health recommends women drink no more than two to three units a day and men drink no more than three to four units. Neither sex should reach or exceed the maximum limits regularly.

One unit is equivalent to half a pint of beer or lager with an alcohol content of no more than 3.5 per cent.

Alternatively, it can equal a 125ml glass of medium-strength wine (eight per cent volume), a 25ml measure of spirits or 50ml of fortified wine, such as sherry.

Most wines tend to have alcohol levels of 12 per cent or more and are served in large 250ml glasses, so this works out at about three units.

Because alcohol is distributed in the body's water, which women have less of, they tend to be more affected by alcohol than men.

If you take a woman and man of the same weight and give them the same amount to drink, the woman will have a higher blood alcohol level.

But it is not all bad news. Research is continuing to show moderate drinking can be good for your health.

Beer is rich in silicon and phytoestrogens, which can prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.

Drinking red wine can help prevent blood clots that lead to strokes or heart attacks because of its blood-thinning properties.

But at this time of year, there is a greater risk of binge drinking and this is where the problems can start.

Alcohol Concern says the number of women who binge drink has risen to 34 per cent while men are staying steady at 37 per cent.

Drinking too much not only leaves a person with a hangover but can have more serious long-term effects such as heart disease, tremors, memory loss, stomach ulcers and cancers.

Health experts say that it is a myth that mixing drinks leads to hangovers - it is the quantity that causes the problem.

Avoiding drinking on an empty stomach is a good way to avoid a hangover. Even a glass of milk is better than nothing.

As alcohol dehydrates, experts also recommend trying to drink plenty of water.

If a person has a glass of water for every glass of alcohol and a large glass before going to bed, they will help the liver flush out the alcohol and will not feel so bad in the morning.

For a herbal alternative, try taking milk thistle before and after drinking, as it helps the liver break down alcohol.

If it helps you to cut down, it pays to take into account how many calories a drink contains.

A 50ml glass of Baileys Irish Cream has 162 calories while a glass of red or white wine has 119 calories. A pint of lager has 238 calories while a gin and tonic (not diet), has 105 calories.

Those who insist the best hangover cure is a full English breakfast are on the right track as the combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat from toast, bacon and egg will boost energy levels.

If you can manage it, a walk in the fresh air will boost your immune and lymphatic systems and help flush the toxins out.

For more information about alcohol, call Alcohol Concern on 020 7922 8667.