What is the saying that involved Beer before wine you will be fine?

Answer 1

The answer is that it is partly true, but not in the way most people think. Moreover, the statement is misleading as to why.

Pet theories about the timing of beer and liquor abound, including ideas about carbonation, carbohydrate buffering, and relative alcohol content affecting the speed of alcohol absorption. None of these theories has any real scientific evidence behind them, and the large majority of them aren't even remotely plausible from any biological or chemical standpoint. While there are certain liquor combinations that may worsen hangovers for certain people in specific ways, there is absolutely no chemical or biological reason why the order matters.

The saying persists in popular culture however, because of how people perceive their drinking. The explanation for the saying is actually quite simple. Beer is foamy and has a much lower alcohol content, by volume, than liquor. Thus, you tend to put less total alcohol in your stomach and do so more slowly, especially if you're already drunk and not paying attention. Consequently, when you finish out the night, you're also likely to go to bed with less alcohol hanging out in your stomach still waiting to be absorbed into the bloodstream in your sleep.

Very simply, if you're already drunk (on beer or liquor), then you're probably not paying close attention to how much you're drinking. If you're not paying attention, you're likely to consume less alcohol putting away sudsy beers than pounding back shots of tequila, and consuming more alcohol makes you sicker. There's no scientific mystery going on, it's just human nature. Or rather, human nature while intoxicated.

Sufficed to say, a better heuristic saying would be, "Drunk before drinking some more, you might want to slow down." Not as catchy, I guess.

Answer 2

You're mixing up two sayings.

Beer then liquor, never sicker.

Liquor then beer, in the clear.

and

Water before wine, you'll be fine.

Wine then water, you're screwed buddy.

Answer 3

It's a popular saying to specify that if you drink liquor after beer, you will get a hangover, though the evidence to support that is either nonexistent or anecdotal at best.