A German court has ruled that hangovers are a type of 'illness' in a case involving an anti-hangover drinks company

A German court has ruled that hangovers are a type of 'illness' in a case involving an anti-hangover drinks company

After a night out partying and drinking, you probably desire nothing more than to pull a sickie the next day and stay tucked up under the covers.

After all nobody wants to be chained to their desk while nursing a nasty headache and fighting off waves of nausea.

But a hangover has never been the most acceptable explanation to give your boss for your absence.

However that might be about to change.

That's because, a German court has ruled this week that hangovers are an 'illness' as they make temporary changes to the body's normal state.

An unnamed anti-hangover drinks firm were taken to court in Frankfurt on Monday over the marketing of their anti-hangover shots and drink powders.

Plaintiffs argued that the firm were making illegal health claims - and the court agreed that they couldn't market their products as being able to treat or prevent illnesses.

In the ruling, the court said: "Information about a food product cannot ascribe any properties for preventing, treating or healing a human illness or give the impression of such a property".

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They went on to explain their use of the term 'illness' in this instance, saying: "By and illness, one should understand even small or temporary disruptions to the normal state or normal activity of the body."

Thus they took 'illness' to include the common side effects of a hangover - including tiredness, headaches and feeling sick.

Ironically, the ruling took place just days after the annual Oktoberfest beer festival began in Munich.

Mirrow