When that “one drink” turns into three, and beers start to arrive accompanied by stronger, shorter liquid companions, there’s one, inevitable end to the night. Whether your poison is pizza, chips, or chicken wings, there’s simply no better way to round off a drinking session than with a late-night (or early morning) drunken snack.
If you, too, suffer from the drunk munchies, don’t worry: It’s not your fault, and you’re not alone. According to a recent study, 82 percent of Americans admitted to being “drunk snackers,” and partake in booze-fueled food binges four times a month on average. One in three said they snack every time they drink.
The survey of 2,000 Americans was conducted by OnePoll and Bitchin’ Sauce, and set about discovering the nation’s drunken eating habits. It revealed that 69 percent of Americans feel their eating habits are worse when drunk, and that men prefer spicy foods, while women opt for saltier snacks.
Pizza, apparently, is the nation’s preferred drunk snack, with 66 percent of those surveyed saying it’s their pick. Chips and dip came in a close second with 58 percent, while french fries (54 percent), nachos (49 percent), and tacos (44 percent) rounded out the top five favorites.
More than 50 percent of those surveyed said they regretted drunk snacking the next day, mostly because of the number of calories consumed. (The fact 40 percent also admitted to having woken up with food in their bed, and approximately one in five have, at some point, discovered food in an unusual place, probably doesn’t help this regret.)
But while many regret their drunken eating habits, they also felt that snacking while drinking is a vital part of the process. More than 60 percent believe eating while drinking prevents or decreases the severity of the next day’s hangover.
