Marketed as a food supplement, the new Myrkl hangover pill claims to be the first product to break down alcohol effectively. It also claims that it may to protect the body from some of the damage that alcohol causes, particularly to the liver, but further research still has to be conducted.

The supplement is comprised of high performing bacteria enriched with L-Cysteine and vitamin B12, which break down alcohol in the gut before it reaches the liver. It also claims to boost energy to help drinkers avoid suffering from headaches and nausea the morning after.

Dr Dawn Harper, best known for her work on the hit TV show, Embarrassing Bodies, comments: “To be clear, this is not a product for the person who wants to go out and drink to excess – the way Myrkl works is it increases the breakdown of alcohol and therefore reduces the amount absorbed into your system. So you will still get some absorption and some of that jolliness that you experience when drinking alcohol. If you want to go out and get drunk, Myrkl would simply mean that it would take you a lot longer and cost you a lot more. Where I see Myrkl could be relevant is for the huge number of moderate drinkers in the UK.”

The Myrkl supplement has been though independent clinical tests and can be purchased online, with 30 capsules costing £30/$36. For best effect, two pills need to be taken an hour before drinking.