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These drinkers in South Korea are trying out a new hangover cure after a special ice cream was launched by a supermarket .

The Gyeondyo-bar, which translates to "hang in there", is the first ice cream bar marketed specifically to combat the after effects of drinking alcohol .

The grapefruit-flavoured lollipop contains 0.7% oriental raisin tree fruit juice, a traditional hangover remedy cited in a Korean medicine book from the 17th century that is included in popular hangover potions.

A 2012 article in the Journal of Neuroscience found oriental raisin tree extract reduced symptoms of intoxication in rats.

(Image: Reuters)

Um Kyung-sun, a Korean medicine doctor at Korea Medicine Herbal Association, said: "In the past, we've used oriental raisin tree fruits to ease a hangover, because it contains lots of fructose, glucose, minerals, calcium, and iron.

"Even now, it has been proven to be really effective for relieving hangovers."

(Image: Reuters)

Drinking, often in groups of co-workers, is big business in South Korea, and so are hangover cures, which generate roughly 150 billion won (£80 million) in annual sales, according to industry data.

Remedies range from pills and beverages to cosmetics for women who want to keep their skin soft after a boozy night.

Those cures exclude the "hangover soup" that is a staple of Korean restaurant menus.

(Image: Reuters)

South Koreans drink 12.3 litres of alcohol per year on average, the most in Asia-Pacific, according to a 2014 World Health Organisation report.

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A study by South Korea's National Health Insurance Policy Institute estimated that the social cost of drinking, including to lost production, hospitalisations and early deaths, was about 9.45 trillion won in 2013.