Let’s just say this one is for the 21+ crowd.

From there, your options usually feel pretty limited, and pretty bleak.

Amalia Rubin has certainly been in this predicament.

Kristen Wiig appears sweaty and nauseous in a scene from "Bridesmaids"

Shes a 37-year-old PhD student based in Nepal studying Himalayan societies, languages, and cultures.

She’s also a digital creator, having amassed over 135K followers onTikTokand over 22K onInstagram.

She then explains that 1.

Close-up of two Canada Dry ginger ale cans

Alcohol is a sterilizer and 2.

And then, of course, bottoms up!

I was also curious because of how many cultures have after-dinner drinks as alleged digestive aids."

Several people are gathered around a wooden table with six glasses of whiskey

So…is this real?

“Maybe the food I was eating wasn’t in fact carrying any bacteria.

Maybe I’m just lucky.

A bar setup with various drinks and ingredients. A person is pouring a blue beverage into a glass. Flowers and drink mixers are on the counter

I wanted some answers, so I asked a gastroenterologist and the answer is: Kind of.

Dr. Advani said the study had been based on what’s called a sub-analysis.

So theremightbe evidence that supports the claim, but the data is weak.

Buffet table with various foods including slices of ham, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, bowls of yogurt, and cereals. Diners are seated and eating in the background

However, Dr. Advani did explain the potential scientific mechanism behind the practice.

So the gut is more susceptible to inflammation from anything.”

In conclusion: “These are things that can impact your body on a global scale.

A microscopic view of multiple rod-shaped bacteria, shown with thermal imaging colors

It can also make you more susceptible to infections down the line.

Essentially and Amalia agrees it’s better to attempt to prevent illness in the first place.

But that isn’t always possible, especially when traveling, and she appreciates having a risk mitigation method.

Romaine lettuce heads bound with rubber bands are stacked on a grocery store shelf

“I think it’s a risk you take if you’re [traveling].

“We’re really worried about it.”

So, food safety is the gold standard for preventing food-borne illnesses in the first place.

A close-up of a jar labeled "apple cider vinegar · vinaigre de cidre de pomme."

Person holding a shot glass with caption: "you should definitely just take care of your food first"

A white bowl filled with a stack of square, plain crackers