Does lining your stomach really stop you getting too drunk? This and other drinking myths busted

"You must line your stomach before you go out": It's an order many of our parents drummed into us during our first, tentative teenage forays in drinking alcohol.

There was no leaving the house for a night out without a proper (often stodgy ) meal.

As adults, we have the occasional slip-up, but it's a piece of wisdom we all remember and try to implement as much as we can.

There's a huge amount of helpful advice available online too on what's best to eat to minimise your chance of getting too drunk. After all, taxi cleaning charges are pretty steep.

But lining your stomach with a big meal before drink can help to reduce the risk of getting drunk is one the biggest (and most surprising) alcohol myths. (Scroll down for more of these).

So, were our parents lying to us all this time?

Well, yes and no.

Whilst a hearty meal does not prevent getting drunk, according to the NHS , "drinking on a full stomach before you go out will delay alcohol getting into your system."

The meal does delay the rate at which any alcohol you drink is absorbed, but if you're going on to drink a lot, then it doesn't protect you from intoxication.

That's not to say, however, our parents were totally wrong. The NHS still does advise eating a proper meal before a night out - " especially foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins."