There’s a long-held belief that having a few drinks can help you fall asleep faster and sleep better, but we now know this isn’t true for everyone. So if your sleep tracker is telling you that your shut-eye takes a nose-dive after a night on the town, there’s definitely something in it.

Just like you, some of us enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a few beers to unwind with friends after work, but we also know that alcohol can have a knock-on effect on how deeply we sleep that night.

To shed some light on the subject, we spoke to Clinical Physiologist Samantha Briscoe, and sleep specialist Dr Guy Meadows to get their professional takes on the relationship between alcohol and sleep. We also asked them if there’s a way to offset the affects of booze so that we can still enjoy a drink and limit the damage to our sleep. Here’s what they said…

Alcohol and sleep: What’s the big deal?

Some days there’s nothing better than having a glass of wine or two after a stressful day or to celebrate a big win, but once the sedative effect of alcohol wears off it changes your normal sleep cycles.

As Samantha Briscoe, Clinical Psychologist at the London Bridge Sleep Centre explains: “Alcohol causes our bodies to fall into the deep stages of sleep quicker and suppresses the amount of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. That imbalance causes a reduction in overall sleep quality.”

Ever woken up after a night out with a throat that feels like a sandbox and an overwhelming need to down all the water? That’s because alcohol is a diuretic. “It encourages the body to lose extra fluid, making you dehydrated,” says Briscoe. “This could also cause you to wake up in the night with the need to go to the toilet or because you feel thirsty.”

A hangover or tiredness from a lack of quality sleep worsens depending on the amount of alcohol you drink, too. In fact, a 2018 study showed that sleep quality decreased by 9.3% when participants drank a low amount of alcohol, classed as fewer than two servings per day for men or one serving per day for women.

People who drank a high amount of alcohol, classed as more than two servings per day for men or more than one serving per day for women, had decreased sleep quality of up to 39.2%.

Some drinks affect sleep more than others

Our bodies each process foods and drinks differently. Some of us claim to have less of a hangover and less disturbed sleep with clear drinks such as vodka, while others can drink wine or beer and feel fine.

However, to be sure of a better night’s sleep, Brisco advises against adding these specific drinks to your booze: “When drinking alcohol, we often mix it with a caffeinated, sugary drink. Caffeine and sugar are both stimulants, meaning they can make you feel more energetic and alert.

“Mixing alcohol with caffeine can make us feel more alert and will likely lead to delayed sleep onset.”

Alcohol can make insomnia worse

Insomniacs find it hard to sleep anyway, but alcohol can make it worse or even bring on insomnia in people who have never had it. Dr Guy Meadows, sleep physiologist and Clinical Director of the Sleep School , explains: “If regularly consumed and in large quantities, alcohol can begin to change our sleep architecture.

“Insomnia occurs in 36-72% of alcoholic patients and may last for weeks to months after initiating abstinence from alcohol. It also works both ways - up to 28% of insomniacs regularly use alcohol to aid sleep.”

Sleep apnea, a serious health condition where you stop breathing while asleep, can also be worsened by alcohol. “Alcohol is reported to increase the risk of sleep apnoea by 25%,” Dr Meadows reveals.

“This happens because the sedative effect of alcohol relaxes the muscles holding the airways open, causing them to collapse, increasing the risk of snoring and sleep apnea.”

How can we offset alcohol’s effect on sleep?

Once alcohol has reached your bloodstream it’s hard to reverse the effects on your body and sleep patterns, but there are ways to limit the impact. “Eat before, during or after drinking,” reveals psychologist Brisco, “as this can help to slow the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream.

“If you have been drinking in the evening, it’s best to leave as much time as possible in between your last drink and going to sleep to allow the alcohol time to start wearing off,” she adds. “It can vary from person to person, but on average, it takes around one hour for your body to process each unit of alcohol.”

Meadows reveals to offset the long term effects of alcohol on your sleep we should be limiting our intake of alcohol every week: “For every night you choose to drink alcohol, aim to have two nights off. This guarantees that you’ll get good sleep at least two nights out of three, as well as giving your liver a rest.”

How to prioritise better sleep

In addition to being mindful of your alcohol intake, there are some easy changes you can make to your daily life to ensure you sleep better at night, regardless of whether you have had a drink or not.

One of the most important aspects of this is the cornerstone of sleep hygiene: setting up a regular bedtime routine that helps you relax ahead of going to bed. Why? Because the more relaxed you are, the easier it will be for you to fall asleep. A major part of this is going to bed and getting up at the same time each day where possible.

An uncomfy bed can also lead to disturbed sleep, so if yours is causing you aches and pains, think about investing in the best mattress for your body and sleep style. You could also rotate your current one to see if that makes a difference and helps you feel more comfortable when lying down.

Have a quick look around your bedroom too and make sure it’s clutter-free, dark, quiet and cool - the calmer your sleeping environment, the better you’ll snooze. Light sleepers, it’s worth getting some good quality sleep earplugs to block out external noise so you have more of a chance of sleeping through.

This article is part of TechRadar's Sleep Awareness Week 2022 celebration (running until Saturday 19 March), a week-long look at all things slumber. We'll be bringing you proven techniques and tips to help you sleep better, and have rounded-up all the top-rated tech to transform your sleep.

PS5 vs Xbox Series S: how do the two consoles compare?

When placing the PS5 and Xbox Series S side by side, the two consoles are stark in comparison, yet both have their distinct benefits and drawbacks depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for.

When it comes to price and availability, Microsoft’s cheaper, more compact, disc-less machine seems like a no-brainer. But what if you’re not ready to wave goodbye to physical media but also want a true taste of what the next generation of video games can offer? In the case of PS5 , that's not just 4K resolution and higher frame rates, but also new immersive haptic and aural sensations provided by the DualSense Controller and 3D audio .

Of course, the Xbox Series S still offers a solid proposition that lets you access hundreds of titles and next-gen features like Quick Resume and blazing-fast load times More titles are set to be exclusive to Microsoft’s latest consoles in 2022, too, such as Starfield and Forza Motorsport . But does it still feel more like an iterative upgrade rather than a splash into the new?

This isn’t quite the heavyweight and lightweight match-up if you think it is, though. Ultimately, it rests on what kind of experience you’re after, which is why we’ve got all the details to help you make an informed choice.

PS5 vs Xbox Series S price and release date

The PS5 launched on November 12, 2020, while Xbox Series S got a slight headstart, launching on November 10, 2020, the same date as Microsoft’s flagship console, Xbox Series X .

While prices have not changed since launch, the Xbox Series S remains by far the cheapest next-gen console on the market at just $299 / £249 / AU$499, compared to the PS5’s price of $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95.

Last year in the UK, GAME also had an offer where customers were able to trade in an Xbox One model or another last-gen console (including Nintendo Switch ) for a Series S for just £99, making the upgrade even more of a bargain.

That huge $200 price difference would make the Series S a clear winner for the cash-strapped who still want to get into the latest console generation. But if you have more of a budget, that’s not the only factor to consider when it comes to buying a new console.

PS5 vs Xbox Series S specs

In terms of raw power, the PS5 is far more powerful than the Xbox Series S both from a technical perspective and by what you can see, hear and feel. The Series S specs are considerably less powerful and also fundamentally different from the Xbox Series X, although the two share the same custom AMD Zen 2 eight-core processor. Check out the official specs for the PS5 below:

What these specs don’t include is that the PS5 also delivers a more immersive gaming experience thanks to the DualSense controller’s haptics, adaptive triggers , and built-in speaker and microphone, the latter also functioning for voice chat if you lack a headset. Its Tempest 3D audio engine also enables spatial surround sound technology, which now works on TV speakers rather than just through headphones. These features are leveraged especially effectively with Sony’s own first-party titles, including Astro’s Playroom , which is pre-installed on every PlayStation 5.

The Xbox Series S feels more like an iterative upgrade from the Xbox One , then, though it’s a capable next-gen console nonetheless that can still run the same games as Xbox Series X as long as you’re fine with a maximum 1440p resolution , which can still be upscaled to 4K. Some games do hit 4K resolution, like Ori and the Will of the Wisps, but it isn’t the norm.

Xbox One X owners might consider the Xbox Series S a downgrade as it doesn’t support native 4K and as a result, backward compatible games do not include enhancements made for Xbox One X consoles. However, the more affordable Xbox takes advantage of FPS Boost , a feature where Microsoft has enhanced the framerates of select backward compatible games, and is capable of ray tracing, 120Hz output, and has super-fast load times thanks to its NVMe SSD. Check out the Xbox Series S specs below:

One of the sore points with Series S is its small 512GB storage, which will leave you with little room if you’ve already installed Grand Theft Auto 5 and/or the latest Call of Duty . The proprietary Seagate storage expansion cards , while far more convenient to plug in compared to having to open up the PS5 and screw in an SSD , are also expensive, which might make some wonder why they didn’t just invest in the more powerful Series X instead.

However, you can also opt for a more affordable external hard drive to keep games in cold storage, while still running last-gen games (albeit without the benefit of faster loading times). The ability to put games on an external hard drive was missing from PS5 at launch but Sony has since updated the system allowing this feature. Of course, if you want to play Xbox Series S optimized games or PS5 titles, you’ll need to transfer them onto the internal drive.

There’s one area where the Series S wins hands down: and that’s based on size. While the PS5 is a divisive eyesore and the second heaviest PlayStation of all time, the Xbox Series S is the smallest Xbox Microsoft has ever made, making it an easy fit under your TV or alongside any other hardware vying for shelf space. It’s surprisingly portable , too.

PS5 vs Xbox Series S games

Games are subjective, but let’s get down to the key practical difference since we are comparing a disc-based console with a disc-less one. If you’re buying an Xbox Series S, it’s almost imperative that you sign up for Xbox Game Pass so that you have the best value for money of being able to access a huge library of games, including Microsoft first-party titles from day one, to download online or play via the cloud, if you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate .

However, if you’re arguably after the biggest blockbusters that can’t be played anywhere else, such as Demon’s Souls , Returnal , and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart , then PS5 is the console for you. That sense of exclusivity may have been slightly dampened by Sony’s U-turn to bring some PS5-developed games to PS4, but there’s no denying these games don’t perform best on Sony’s latest machine, as proven by new titles like Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 .

PS5 exclusive games do come at a cost, however, with Sony pricing its major titles at $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$124.95. The upside is you can at least find the boxed copies online usually at a discount and you still have the option to trade them in when you’re done with them. Some publishers have also included free next-gen upgrades or a small upgrade fee if you already own the PS4 copy, although Microsoft has still handled this better with its Smart Delivery system.

Yet despite the ability to seamlessly play four generations of Xbox titles on the same console without the faff of save transfers, a common complaint is that there’s just not enough new exclusives on Microsoft’s console to get excited about, at least not yet. While Game Pass is incredible value for money, its library is also not permanent, with some of Microsoft’s own first-party games, notably Forza Horizon 3 and Forza Motorsport 7 , being removed from the service.

Things certainly improved towards the end of 2021  with the release of both Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite , but it looks like Xbox owners will have to wait until November for the next big release in the form of Bethesda’s  Starfield. Still, plenty more of Microsoft’s recent studio acquisitions will begin to pay off in the near future in the form of new games, including new titles from Activision Blizzard .

PS5 vs Xbox Series S verdict

Ultimately, it’s going to come down to personal preference over which is the better console to go for, but there are clearly pros and cons for each. Xbox Series S wins on price and form factor, while it’s also more readily available than either the PS5 or its flagship big brother Xbox Series X. However, you’ll want to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass to get the most out of it, while regularly managing your storage capacity.

Even if it’s pricier, bulkier, and harder to find, for many, the PS5’s features really feel like you’re entering a new console generation, and a steady stream of blockbuster exclusives make terrific use of the PlayStation 5’s unique features to justify the initial expensive investment.

If you’re impatient to get into next-gen gaming now, then, the Xbox Series S is an accessible entry point that still gives you the option to save up for a PS5 further down the line when there’s either a price drop or improved availability. By then Sony may have introduced a PS5 Slim or PS5 Pro too.

Dying Light 2 devs launch update, backtrack three hours later

Dying Light 2’s recent 1.2 patch has not gone down well with fans, who are angry after the update nerfed one of the game’s best items.

Although intended as an easter egg, the Korek Charm has become beloved by players for effectively letting them bypass the game’s weapon’s degradation system. Weapons in Dying Light 2 degrade with use, requiring you to discard them and replace them with shiny new options.

While it’s possible to restore the durability of degraded weapons by equipping them with stat-boosting mods, each mod only restores a meager 50 durability points. In comparison, the beloved Korek Charm restored a massive 500 durability points, effectively making weapons unbreakable.

Dying Light 2’s 1.2 patch, however, has nerfed the Korek Charm, reducing its durability buff to only 300 points. Additionally, you must now spend 666 scrap (the game’s collectible resource) to craft the item. Rest assured, that’s a lot of scrap, which will take a long time to accumulate in-game.

Many Dying Light 2 players didn’t respond well to the item nerf, which wasn’t listed in the official 1.2 patch notes . Most are disappointed that the Korek Charm will no longer let them circumvent the game’s weapon degradation system, forcing them to switch between weapons rather than sticking with their favorite.

The Korek Charm was especially favored by late-game players who had completed its main questline. By equipping the item, they could explore the game’s large map without becoming burdened with a weapon management system they’d rather avoid.

Techland has already responded to players’ concerns, promising to adjust the item in upcoming updates. “We wanted to balance it, not make it unfun,” the official Dying Light 2 Twitter account said in a response to one fan’s feedback.

The game’s lead designer Tymon Smektała , meanwhile, said the item was tweaked without his knowing, and said he would “try to restore it & make it more meaningful”. He also pointed out that the Korek Charm was originally designed as an easter egg, not an official means to bypass the game’s degradation system.

Analysis: broken weapons are contentious

Weapons degradation systems have long been a point of contention in video games. While designers see them as a convenient means of encouraging players to test the many items in a game, players often complain they’re cumbersome, spoiling a game’s fun by throwing up irritating obstacles.

The reaction of Dying Light 2’s players to this latest patch only cements that view. Most are disappointed that they no longer have any easy way to make their weapons unbreakable, forcing them to engage with a weapons degradation system they don’t enjoy.

Although it looks like Techland will be restoring the item to its original form, this player reaction doesn’t cast the game’s weapons system in a fantastic light. Players are actively looking for ways to bypass its intended design, and whether degrading weapons are good or bad, Techland’s implementation of the idea in Dying Light 2 doesn’t appear to have hit the mark with many fans.