India, Aug. 31 -- Anti-hangover pills, sachets, effervescent tablets, detox shots and even gummies are now just a quick-commerce order away. As India's festive and wedding season gets busier, these products are becoming hard to miss, promising hydration, "detox" and an easier morning after. But can they actually undo the effects of alcohol? Doctors say the claims need a closer look. "Being sold OTC does not mean that the product has demonstrated efficacy as a hangover treatment," says internal medicine specialist Dr Sfurti Mann. "Anti-hangover" is a marketing description, not a recognised therapeutic class, she adds. Such products cannot reverse intoxication, restore judgment and coordination, make someone safe to drive or prevent alcohol poisoning. Liver transplant surgeon Dr Punit Singla says, "About 90% of ingested alcohol is metabolised, predominantly in the liver. It happens through a series of enzymatic reactions to metabolise it into non-harmful substances. There is no well-established OTC tablet, detox shot, or herbal preparation proven to increase ethanol clearance in humans." According to US-based market research firm Grand View Research, India's hangover rehydration supplements market was worth $240.9 million (about Rs.2,300 crore) in 2024 and is projected to reach $530.3 million by 2030. India is also the fastest-growing market in Asia Pacific in this category. Dr Mann says the bigger concern is the "pre-drinking protection" mindset such products may encourage: "A product marketed as an 'anti-hangover' can unintentionally shift the perception from 'Alcohol causes physiological harm; drink less' to 'Alcohol causes a temporary problem that I can fix with a capsule'."...