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With the World Cup all wrapped up for another four years, now comes some difficult post match reflection. We have learnt maybe, just maybe England aren't as good as they thought they were and Spain clearly should have been disqualified for being a bit too good!

What have we learnt, however, about alcohol? Below are some commonly held beliefs about drink and drinking. Find out if they’re true, false or if we’ve had to call in the referee for a technical decision…

Black coffee sobers you up

FALSE
A quick cup of black coffee is all it takes to get back on top of your game, right? Wrong. On average your body gets rid of alcohol at a rate of one unit an hour, although this can differ from person to person. Nothing can speed up the process, so if you need to stay sober the best bet is to not drink too much alcohol in the first place.  

Lining your stomach is a smart idea

TRUE
If you decide to drink alcohol, having a big meal before kick off will help slow down the absorption of alcohol. Remember that if you drink to excess, food won’t save you from feeling awful the next day, though.

Men and women react differently to alcohol

TRUE
The chemical that metabolises alcohol in the liver is called alcohol dehydrogenase (AHD). Because women have naturally lower amounts of AHD in their bodies, theytend to feel more intoxicated more quickly than men and feel the effects for longer. This means that by trying to drink as much as some men, women are in danger of scoring a biological own goal.   

Alcohol can make you violent

TRUE
Too much alcohol can make people more likely to lose their temper during a tense match. If you’re throwing a World Cup party it’s a smart idea to offer soft drinks as well as alcohol to ensure any arguments don’t escalate. 

If you stick to one kind of drink all night you’ll be alright

FALSE
It’s the amount of alcohol you sink that makes you feel drunk, not the type of alcohol that you drink. A unit is a unit whatever shape it comes in, and whatever your tipple, you’ll feel awful the next day if you drink to excess 

The guidelines recommend that men should not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily and that women should not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily . A large glass of wine or a pint of strong beer are both three units.

Familarise yourself with the units in your favourite drink by using our unit calculator and drink diary.

Red wine is good for your heart

REF’S DECISION
Alcohol is both good and bad for the heart. Some scientists say alcohol in small amounts may be beneficial, but drinking to excess regularly can cause heart disease, liver disease and cancer. The sure fire way to be certain the amount you drink will not have a detrimental effect on your health is to stick within the recommended guidelines.

You can work off those drinks down the gym

FALSE
Alcohol actually stops the body breaking down fat, so any exercise the day after drinking will be less effective than usual. A kickabout with the kids is also far less appealing with a hangover.

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Drinkaware advises men not to regularly drink more than 3–4 units of alcohol a day.