Most of Britain has accepted that come the first day of 2013, they won't be feeling quite as perky as they might like to be.

Indeed, the celebrations on New Year's Eve are more than likely to give the vast majority of the UK population a bit of a sore head.

If you've already accepted that you're going to be feeling a little ropey on the first, there are some things that you can do to lessen the hangover if you plan ahead.

Don't drink on an empty stomach

With all the leftover food in the fridge, this one shouldn't be a tricky one.

Scientists have found that the more you eat, the slower alcohol will affect you, and therefore the more you can drink without being affected.

According to these specialists, fatty foods are the best for preventing hangovers (hurrah!), as they slow the absorption of alcohol.

If you want healthier oils, you can try oily fish such as salmon, or vegetables like avocados.

Stick to one type of alcohol

Variety is not the spice of life when it comes to drinking!

Indeed, mixing spirits, beers and wine is most definitely a recipe for disaster when it comes to the morning after.

The different additives, flavourings, and other elements in different types of alcohol can often mix together to make a very grim first day of the year...

Drink water at the same time

Alcohol makes you urinate more, which can lead to dehydration.

When you're dehydrated, you can feel a lot more headachey, as well as tired, achey and stressed – not a nice hangover.

It's advisable to have a glass of water with every drink to keep hydrated.

It is also recommendable to have sugary drinks such as energy drinks, the processes that break down alcohol also produce lactic acid and other chemicals that interfere with the production of sugar.

Adding this sugar back throughout the night can really stop the next day blues.

Posted by Freya Harper