Any fan of live music will know that attending gigs come with a few strings attached – packed room, tall people blocking your view, and of course the inevitable hangover that follows a brilliant night out.
But an Australian first is hoping to cheat the system, ensuring that this summer you can attend as many gigs as you want and drink to your hearts content without most of the consequences, that is, if you’re actually able to get out of bed to visit it.
Meet Australia’s first IV hydration “Hangover Clinic”, recently opened in the leafy suburb of Surry Hills in Sydney.
Sure, you could try eating the greasiest food you can get your hands on, or perhaps you’re more of a fan of the “hair of the dog”, but nothing quite says I’m a yuppie with too much money than $200 treatment package to cure your morning blues.
So what exactly do you get for your $200? The Resurrection package as they call it is for the most serious of situations. When you’ve had an epic night, you need an epic treatment. This 1 hour package will help you tackle the post-party blues like nothing else.
You’ll receive 1.5 litres of ‘Hartmann’s Solution’ IV hydration, vitamins B and C, headache medication, anti-nausea medication, an antioxidant boost, and lastly an oxygen treatment.
Wallet hurting more than your head? Maybe just go for the Jump Start package, which for $140 gives you the IV hydration and vitamins B and C, but you’ll have to make Sophie’s choice between headache medication or anti-nausea medication.
According to the Hangover Clinic’s website, the treatment takes as little time as 30 minutes, promising “we’ll have you off the couch feeling fresh and ready to tackle the day ahead – whether it’s going out with friends, a special family occasion, a busy schedule of meetings, or just simply so you can feel like the best version of yourself.”
Inside, the walls are painting in a dark, neutral tone, with plenty of comfy furniture for you to lounge on while you receive your treatment.
A photo posted by hangover.clinic (@hangoverclinic) on
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Hangover Clinic’s co-founder Max Petro came up with the idea when he was working as a ski instructor and first discovered the IV method of treating a hangover.
“The ski patrollers, who are all qualified paramedics, were always last out at night and first up in the morning,” he told SMH. “I always wondered how they did it until one day, they let me in on their secret.”
“They took me into their little ski shack and they were all hooked up to IVs and oxygen. So next time I was a bit dusty, I knocked on their door and asked if I could give it a crack. It’s been in the back of my mind ever since.”
“There has been some criticism suggesting we’re encouraging binge drinking,” he admits. “We don’t serve alcohol. We are not a pub. We encourage binge drinking as much as hospitals encourage people to get sick.”
Michael Moore, who is chief executive of the Public Health Association of Australia, is among those angry about the new venture.
“This encourages people to use alcohol in an entirely inappropriate way and it’s something the government should look at very, very carefully,” says Moore. “After all the hard work that has been done to reduce the harm associated with alcohol … this is ridiculous.”
Others, such as National AMA vice president Stephen Parnis have branded the IV service as nothing more than a “marketing gimmick”.
Still, although many will scoff at the idea of paying $140 – $200 to cure a hangover, it could be a saving grace across this busy music festival season.
