But here鈥檚 where it gets weird. Before you even leave the club, you start to feel funny. Your head is spinning, you can鈥檛 breathe well, and it escalates to you throwing up everywhere. While this might sound like a premature hangover, you might actually be suffering from alcohol poisoning.

We asked alcohol connoisseur, , for tips to help alcohol lovers and nightlife entrepreneurs avoid the latter, and he had these to share.

Expensive doesn鈥檛 equal quality

A reduced price will raise immediate red flags and counterfeit alcohol sellers know this. Expect them to sell that fake bottle at the same price as the original. However, it鈥檚 important not to let your guard down. This should actually propel you to do a deep check, since you鈥檙e spending a fortune.聽

Look out for the seal/cork

Image: Vine Pair

If it’s broken, don’t drink it. If the cork pops off too easily and doesn’t snap when you twist to open it, it鈥檚 likely not the real deal.

Pay attention to the branding聽

Just like Gucci becomes Bucci, Ferragamo becomes Ferragame or Adidas becomes Addadas in fashion, some fake bottles can be spotted by the name on them. Counterfeit alcohol dealers don’t care for brand-building, they want your money at the detriment of your health. So it鈥檚 important to check the carton, the bottle and the label closely. If it looks off in the slightest, it might be fake.

Take note of the stopper

Image: YouTube

If you’re keen on knowing on to spot fake alcohol, you should always pay attention to this. Most whisky and vodka bottles have stoppers to help you pour with caution. But if your drink stopper doesn’t work, then it’s fake. This isn鈥檛 even up for debate.

The dates are important too

People check expiry dates on drugs, snacks and more, but forget to do the same when it comes to alcohol. Always pay attention to manufacturing and expiry dates if you want to know how to spot fake alcohol. Some counterfeit vendors buy original bottles to repackage their fake alcohol. If the dates seem too far off, you most likely have a recycled bottle on your hands.

Ask for your drinks to be made in front of you

You shouldn鈥檛 be far away from the bartender when he鈥檚 mixing your cocktails or pouring your shots. Go an extra mile and politely ask to check their bottles for all of the items mentioned above. Chances are the club also missed these things during their quality control checks.

The difference is always in the taste

Alcohol lovers know how their favourite drinks taste because there鈥檚 a consistency that can鈥檛 be shaken off. Whisky has a unique taste that differs from brand to brand. Same as vodka, tequila and so on. If you catch a difference in the taste, no matter how minute, there’s a problem.

Sweet chili peppers and lemonade

Yes, Nigeria might be showing you pepper and leaving a sour taste in your mouth, but we promise this drink won鈥檛. Mix the sweet chili peppers and lemons for a spicy, sharp base, and pour in your lemonade and Jack Daniel鈥檚 Tennessee Honey.

Recipe:

• Rim your glass: Take a slice of lemon and rub it around the edge of a highball glass and then dip into Tajin to coat the top of glass.
• Next, add three-five slices of sweet chilli pepper into the glass. Now, muddle the pepper to squeeze out some of its juices.
• Put a few slices of lemon into the glass and fill with ice.
• Then, add two ounces Jack Daniel鈥檚 Tennessee Honey, and fill glass with lemonade.

Lemon juice and mint leaves

Elevate your cocktails by adding lemon juice and mint leaves to your Jack Daniel鈥檚 Tennessee Honey. All you have to do is add everything into a shaker with some ice and watch your little effort yield the best results.

Recipe:

• Fill half of a cocktail shaker with ice, then add six-eight mint leaves, half an ounce of lemon juice, half an ounce of a simple syrup, and two ounces of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey.
• Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds, then strain liquid into a glass with crushed ice.

Ginger 

If you like spice but just can鈥檛 see yourself adding sweet chilli peppers to your liquor, then this is for you. Don鈥檛 worry, you won鈥檛 have to put actual ginger into your glass of Jack Daniel鈥檚 Tennessee Honey. All you need are ginger mixers – any ginger drink you can lay your hands on or the , and you can give your drink that spicy kick.

Recipe:

• Fill 3/4 a glass with cubed ice.
• Pour Jack Honey over ice then top with Schweppes ginger.
• Stir gently for 10 seconds and add lime wedge to garnish.

Apple juice

If you have a sweet tooth, then this is for you. Apple juice pairs well with Jack Daniel鈥檚 Tennessee Honey for a sweeter taste with a fruity undertone. 

Recipe:

• Pour the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey into a glass filled with ice, then add apple juice and stir.
• Fill to the top with more ice and garnish with an apple wedge.

Sprite

If you鈥檙e a big fan of Jack and Coke, but you want your drink sweeter and lighter, then this is for you. Add a lemon wedge to this, and enjoy your drink.

Recipe:

• Pour Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey in an ice-filled glass.
• Add Sprite to taste then garnish with a lemon slice.

But who says you can鈥檛 create your own happiness at home and get high on a 鈧�1k budget? If the level of high you鈥檙e going for is to walk with your head, here are the best options

Beer

Source: Ripples Nigeria

It鈥檚 what you should be gunning for if you have a slim budget. In fact,  just two bottles will probably do the job.

Cream liqueur

If you鈥檙e trying to go extra bougie with your alcohol, cream liqueur comes in sachets these days. Even Baileys is not just for the rich anymore. It screams sapa but who sapa no hold?

Gin

Source: PenPushing

You can roll your eyes at bus conductors and MC Oluomo鈥檚 boys but they know ball. You鈥檒l get more than a sufficient high with sachets of gin.

Rum

Source: Dbani Supermarket

They also come in sachets and midget containers these days. The most you鈥檒l spend is 鈧�600 and you鈥檒l be higher than a kite if that鈥檚 what you鈥檙e going for.

Bitters

A truly versatile king. You can afford it on your N1k budget whether you are at home or at a backyard club. Not the big leagues, abeg.

Whiskey

Source: 

Is it the Nigerian economy or these guys will try anything to get their coins? Anyway, there鈥檚 whisky in sachets now and it鈥檚 not as expensive as what they sell in Quilox.

These locally-made alcoholic beverages will do the job.

Ogogoro

Ogogoro deserves more credit. It gets the job done, but overuse might land you in the gutter sha.

Emu (palm wine)

Source: Juju Films

It might not be as classy as red and white wine you know, but palm wine is bae.

Burukutu:

Source: The Whistler NG

Burukutu is where the magic is at. You might walk home on your head, but will you even notice? Exactly.

Kunu

Source: Dobby鈥檚 signature

You probably don鈥檛 know there鈥檚 an alcoholic version called “Kunu Gyada”. Baileys was found dead in a ditch somewhere.

Sapele water

This local drink is what does it for our brothers and sisters in South-Southern Nigeria. Body go tell you but you won鈥檛 remember a thing. So, cheers.

Zobo liqueur

Source: The Guardian

We bet you don鈥檛 know there鈥檚 an alcoholic version of zobo that can put you on cloud nine. This is what should get your coins instead of them boring Lagos cocktails.

Jedi

Source: HCI Healthcare

If you ever find yourself at the popular Ofada Boy restaurant in Surulere, Lagos, their 鈥榡edi on the rocks鈥� offering should be getting all your coins.

Agbalumo smoothie

Imagine taking the first sip of that sweet and sour blend of flavours. It might take a lot of agbalumo to make this smoothie, but it definitely slaps. Trust me. 

RELATED: For Everyone Who Agbalumos Have Given Trust Issues

Garri smoothie

Some of you already drink garri with milk and sugar. So if you鈥檙e feeling adventurous, simply top it up with fruits like strawberries or pineapples and other unnecessary things. You might as well blend it and carry it in a bottle to work. But if you fall asleep there, you鈥檙e on your own. 

Corn smoothie

What is a corn smoothie if not ogi persevering? If you can find joy in drinking ogi as an adult, this should work too. Buy the brown ogi, add your milk or yoghurt and top it with sprinkles. Perfection!

Bitter-leaf smoothie

If you can drink blended kale and all the other green atrocities, you can drink this. Add a bit of malt soda, milk and sugar, and your Nigerian mum would be proud of you for once. 

Groundnut smoothie

Peanuts and groundnut are basically the same thing. If the former can taste great, then groundnut smoothie should slap to the highest heavens. You can even do a garri and groundnut smoothie, or a corn and groundnut smoothie. Nah, y’all need to pay me for these recommendations. 

Jollof rice smoothie

It鈥檚 already your favourite food, so it might as well become your favourite smoothie too. Think of it as jollof on the go. If nasty things, like letting people spit in your mouth, don’t bother you then eating blended rice should be fine. 

Every soup in the fridge smoothie

Here me out, instead of throwing away all those small plates of soups in your fridge, why not turn them into one big cup of juice? You鈥檙e being less wasteful and eating healthy. What could go wrong?

RELATED: Instantly Upgrade Your Zobo Drink With These 7 Recipes

But then, I discovered these options. And let鈥檚 just say, I鈥檓 onboard the zobo train now. Try some of the best flavors of zobo and thank me later.

1. Zobo with pineapple and ginger

Image source: K鈥檚 cuisine

Most people already add ginger to their zobo 鈥� hence, the burning sensation 鈥� but you need something to balance out the sharpness, and pineapple works great.

Recipe:

• Wash a cup of zobo leaves in warm water, and put into a pot of two litres of water.
• Add a tablespoon of grated ginger and a cup of pineapple concentrate (or whole pineapple peels). Allow this to boil for about 25 minutes.
• Add some sugar (depending on how sweet you want it), stir well and allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes.
• Drain with a fine-mesh strainer into another container to get rid of any particles, and allow it to cool before refrigerating.
• Garnish with citrus fruits to serve, for extra pizzazz, and enjoy.

Find the detailed recipe .

2. Mixed-fruit Zobo

Image source: Zubaydaisah

Why have one fruit when you can have multiple? TBH, mixed-fruit zobo is giving Chapman, but I don鈥檛 hate it.

Recipe:

• Make the zobo drink with the recipe above but with less pineapple and sugar to make room for the other fruits.
• Blend half of a medium watermelon, blend a mango to make a smooth pulp and juice two oranges. 
• Sieve the watermelon and mango pulp to remove the particles.
• Add all three to your zobo drink and refrigerate (Warm zobo tastes like tears).
• For the complete Chapman look, add the cut-up pieces of fruit when you serve the zobo.

ALSO READ: Wait, Who Invented Chapman?

3. Zobo Margarita

Image source: Periperi chef

Something for the raging alcoholics too, of course. 

Recipe:

• Make your zobo drink. Cold, of course.
• Rim a cocktail glass with salt and place in the fridge to chill.
• Put ice in a cocktail shaker with half a cup of zobo, a shot of tequila and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Shake vigorously for a couple of minutes.
• Pour into the chilled salt-rimmed glass, and serve immediately.

Find the detailed recipe .

4. Zobo and watermelon smoothie

Image source: Lil鈥� Luna 

For when a plain watermelon smoothie just won鈥檛 cut it.

Recipe:

• Cut a small watermelon into cubes, and throw in a blender with half a cup of milk or yoghurt and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Blend together with half a cup of ice until smooth.
• Pour into half a cup of cold zobo (preferably sweetened with pineapple), mix well and serve. 

ALSO READ: Moringa Benefits for Women: What It Does and How to Use It聽

5. Zobo and unsweetened yoghurt

Image source: Funke Koleosho

This zobo and yoghurt dessert is technically a drink. Don鈥檛 you drink some types of yoghurt? I don鈥檛 make the rules.

Recipe:

• Mix some unsweetened yoghurt in a bowl and add some condensed milk to sweeten it.
• Transfer the mixture into a dessert cup and place in a fridge so the yoghurt can set.
• Dissolve some gelatin in hot water. The quantity of gelatin depends on how much zobo syrup you have, but one or two tablespoons should suffice. 
• When completely dissolved, stir in the zobo syrup and allow it to cool.
• Pour the mixture over the yoghurt you prepared earlier, and garnish with any fruit of your choice.

Find the detailed recipe .

6. Zobo lemonade

Image source: 9ja foodie

This is the lemon version of the pineapple recipe.

Recipe:

• Prepare your zobo drink without pineapple concentrate.
• In a separate pot, add sugar and a cup of water. Boil and stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Cool the sugar mixture in the fridge, then mix in a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and you have your lemonade.
• Next, mix the lemonade with the zobo, refrigerate and serve chilled.

7. Zobo, banana and dates smoothie

Image source: Funke Koleosho

If you can鈥檛 tell I love smoothies at this point, I don鈥檛 know what to say. But you鈥檒l love this one.

Recipe:

• Prepare your zobo drink.
• Soak half a cup of dates in water for an hour to soften it.
• Dice two or three frozen bananas into a blender. Add the dates and half a cup of milk or yoghurt. Blend until smooth.
• Pour the blended mixture into a bowl, and mix in the zobo drink.
• Serve and enjoy.

NEXT READ: These Are 7 Simple Cocktails You Can Make With Ingredients in Your Kitchen