If you spent New Year's Eve partying, think of the guys who made it possible and who had to clean up after you ambled off home on January 1. And thanks to January 1 being a Friday, most of the hospitality industry had to rush back to work.

Mixing those drinks

Devang Devsaria, bartender, AER Lounge, Four Seasons, worked from 3 pm to 8 am on December 31. Since bartenders aren't allowed drink during shift, there was no question of a hangover. "I had a heavy breakfast, slept for two-three hours, and then got back," he says. The bartender will get a day off only on Monday, a day he plans to spend sleeping. His detox mantra: water. "At the bar, if a guest is too drunk, we offer a glass of fresh lime with salt. It cleans up the system," he says.

Bar manager Tushar Mandal, who works at Zenzi in Lower Parel, isn't too much of a drinker but samples cocktails before approval. And there were several on the last night of 2009 when they worked from 5 pm to 6 am. His offers the most intriguing detox advice of all: more alcohol.

"Seriously," he says. "After a night of drinking, when you finally wake up the next afternoon with a bad hangover, drink 30 ml of any alcohol with water or soda or cola. Also add lime juice to it. It really helps in cleaning up your body and head and makes you feel better too." But one must make sure one sticks to 30 ml, Tushar quickly adds. Unless you want to start the first week of the New Year with construction workers pounding your head.u00a0