7 myths about alcohol and hangovers

New Year's Eve, Super Bowl Sunday and St. Patrick's Day — all among the booziest holidays in the United States.

Read on for some common myths and misconceptions about alcohol and hangovers.

Myths and misconceptions

1) I can drink as much as I want to, because I'm not driving.

"It is very important to remember that there are many other bad outcomes that can happen from excessive drinking, including sexual risk-taking and assault, falls and other injuries, physical violence, property damage, and blackouts," says Toben Nelson, an associate professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota.

"Preventing excessive drinking is important for reducing these bad outcomes."

2) I drink a lot, but I don't get drunk or have hangovers.

This could actually signal alcohol dependence.

"If you are a heavy drinker, then your lack of hangovers could be a sign that your body is addicted to and dependent on alcohol to function normally," according to Go Ask Alice!, an online health resource from Columbia University.

3) Drinking beer or wine won't get me as drunk or hung over as hard liquor would.

Alcohol is alcohol.

"The form of alcohol (beer, wine or hard liquor) probably won't make much difference in the experience of a hangover. The more important factor is how much alcohol is consumed," says Nelson.

4) Drinking coffee or taking a cold shower will sober me up.

Coffee can cause more harm than good. Like alcohol, it's a diuretic that can further dehydrate your body, according to the University of Minnesota's Boynton Health Service.

Taking a cold shower also won't help because "an intoxicated person's senses are impaired from registering pain, heat, cold, and smell, other other sensory information."

5) Forcing a person to vomit can sober them up.

Not true.

"Encouraging someone who is drunk to vomit will only empty the contents of their stomach and any alcohol that has not already entered the bloodstream," Nelson says.

But vomiting "may help keep that person from becoming further intoxicated" because it will prevent more alcohol from entering the bloodstream, he says.

Boynton notes the practice could be dangerous.

"Encouraging a semiconscious person to vomit could cause choking and/or aspiration."

Check out Boynton's blood alcohol concentration chart to determine estimated levels according to gender, weight and number of drinks consumed.

6) Drinking more alcohol can prevent or cure a hangover.

No. Just no.

"Drinking more alcohol will not prevent or cure a hangover," Nelson says.

7) If someone passes out from drinking, just let them sleep it off — it's perfectly safe.

Anyone who passes out after excessive drinking is in danger, says Nelson.

"Passing out is a sign that the body is shutting down its critical functions, including breathing. Death is a real potential outcome for someone who is passed out from excessive drinking," he says.

"Call 911 immediately if you observe anyone who is passed out from drinking and stay with them until medical services arrive. That call may save their life."