Why does alcohol make us both happy and miserable – and what else does it do to our minds and bodies?

It sends us to sleep and wakes us in the night, excites us and depresses us, gives us confidence one moment, anxiety the next. How does this messy drug wield so much power?

Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study

UPFs are made to encourage addiction and consumption and should be regulated like tobacco, say researchers

Is it a good idea to have a hot toddy when you’re sick?

Experts weigh in on if the traditional remedy of whisky, honey, lemon and hot water can actually help your cold

The best UK Christmas gifts for dads (that aren’t whisky or novelty socks)

From fondue sets to hot sauce, board games to stadium prints, our edit has presents for every budget – even for dads who swear they’ve got everything

Is it true that … a glass of wine a day is good for your heart?

Moderate wine consumption may benefit your cardiac health, but foods such as grapes and berries offer similar advantages without the negative effects

I am three months sober. How do I support my 11-year-old autistic son?

Your son’s autism may make it even harder to navigate this situation. Try to show him things are better, rather than just telling him

The one change that worked: I sobered up – and started to listen to what my body was telling me

After years of partying, I realised the exhaustion and anxiety weren’t worth it, and turned my back on Friday night Fomo. I still enjoy the dancefloor, but I always know when to leave

‘Social apnoea’: sleep disorder could worsen at weekends, research suggests

Lifestyle factors such as drinking and smoking could contribute to increased severity of obstructive sleep apnoea

I wallowed in booze for four decades. Here’s what five sober years have taught me

To give up drinking once seemed unthinkable – and when I finally made the leap, it didn’t go quite as expected

I wish I had known more about alcohol when I started drinking

It seems a sensible move to use explicit warning labels on products. What I’m more sceptical about is the ‘No amount of alcohol is safe for you’ messaging, writes Arwa Mahdawi

Electrolyte sachets are everywhere – but will they cure a festival hangover?

Marketed to ‘party people’ and touted as a faster route to hydration than water, electrolytes are in the middle of a boom

I was 19 and on the trip of a lifetime – then I drank a cocktail laced with methanol

In a bar in Bali, Ashley King was given a lethal drink. A day later, she realised she was going blind. She thought all her dreams were over – but the reality proved very different

Cinderella partying: why young women no longer dance until dawn

In a new survey, just 5% of British women claimed their perfect night involves dancing with friends – and 65% would rather not go out at all

US daylight saving time starts tomorrow. Experts share the 10 worst sleep mistakes

We spend roughly a third of our lives sleeping and yet a lot of us still don’t know how to do it right

I tried ‘intermittent sobriety’. Here’s what I learned jumping on and off the wagon

While this is by no means health advice, these are a few things I’ve found helpful in case you’re also feeling sober curious