Acetaldehyde is the toxic compound your liver turns alcohol into before it can be fully processed, and it is between ten to thirty times more toxic than alcohol itself.

A closer look

Acetaldehyde is the toxic compound your liver turns alcohol into before it can be fully processed, and it is between ten to thirty times more toxic than alcohol itself. When you binge drink, your liver cannot process this poison fast enough, causing it to build up in your bloodstream and trigger the horrific sweating, nausea, and existential dread of a hangover. You are quite literally poisoning yourself for fun, and your body retaliates by making you feel like you are dying the next day as a strict warning. We are the only species on the planet that intentionally consumes a toxic solvent to become more socially interesting, only to spend the entire next day negotiating with God for mercy