Hangovers do not provide any measurable motivation for people to drink less, a new study has revealed.

Experts discovered that hangovers lead to what some call ‘hair of the dog’ drinking, the consumption of a drink or two immediately after waking up in order to lessen the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, and may even cause people to drink more.

The findings, to be published in May in a medical journal but detailed on Science Blog, discovered that morning headaches might even lead to higher incidences of alcoholism.

‘If hangovers motivate ‘hair of the dog’ drinking to alleviate hangover symptoms, perhaps they play a direct role in the escalation of problematic drinking,’ University of Missouri professor Thomas Piasecki told the site.

It was also discovered that people who are at the highest risk of becoming alcoholics are more  likely to suffer through hangovers, he added.

This is because they are more immune to the effect of intoxication than their ‘lightweight’ friends, Piasecki further explained, which leads them to be less aware of their limits and ‘be more prone to drink to hangover-inducing levels.’

The immediate positive effects of drinking also outweigh the delayed negative effect, further leading to problem drinking, Brown University professor Damaris Rohsenow added.

‘People who drink heavily generally experience pleasurable effects while drinking, and that is what drives the decision to drink heavily again,’ said Rohsenow.