Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol Before Surgery?

With your first surgery just a couple of weeks away, it's natural to feel nervous. You might be tempted to have a glass of wine with dinner to calm your nerves, but is this safe or wise?

If there's ever a time to avoid alcohol completely, it's before surgery. Whether you're having cardiovascular, orthopedic, neurosurgery, or any other procedure, drinking alcohol beforehand can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

This article explains the complications linked to drinking before surgery and offers practical tips to protect your health before an operation.

Why You Should Avoid Alcohol Before Surgery

Most surgeries require general anesthesia—a controlled state of unconsciousness that prevents movement and pain during the procedure. Anesthesia drugs reduce bodily functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood circulation.

Alcohol has a similar sedative effect, suppressing the central nervous system. It also interferes with how your body absorbs anesthesia, potentially making some drugs less effective. This might force an anesthesiologist to use a higher dosage, increasing the risk of heart problems, especially if you already have cardiac issues.

Both alcohol and anesthesia can cause nausea and vomiting. Combining them raises the risk of aspiration (inhaling vomit), which can lead to pneumonia and be fatal.

Drinking in the weeks before surgery also increases the chance of serious anesthesia complications, such as accidental awareness (waking up during surgery) and anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction).

Key Risks of Drinking Before Surgery

• Stress on Your Liver: Your liver processes both alcohol and anesthesia drugs. Having both in your system at once can overwhelm the liver, potentially leading to failure over time.
• Increased Bleeding: Alcohol thins the blood and interferes with clotting, making it harder to control blood loss during surgery. This risk is higher if you take blood-thinning medications or have a clotting disorder like hemophilia.
• Medication Problems: Alcohol can interact with drugs taken before, during, or after surgery, causing serious side effects or reducing their effectiveness. This is especially risky with pain relievers, sedatives, or antibiotics.
• Infection and Sepsis: Alcohol raises the risk of infection at the surgical site, in the urinary tract, or respiratory system. If an infection spreads, it can lead to sepsis or septic shock—a life-threatening condition.
• Extended Recovery Time: Alcohol slows wound healing and can prolong recovery. Complications like uncontrolled bleeding might require a blood transfusion, further delaying healing. Research shows that having more than two drinks daily increases the risk of infections, longer hospital stays, and intensive care admission.

When to Stop Drinking Before Surgery

Drinking the day before surgery is not safe. In general, avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours before your procedure. This gives your body time to clear the alcohol and reduces the risk of complications.

However, most doctors recommend stopping one to two weeks earlier. Abstaining for 2–4 weeks before surgery can lower the risk of postoperative problems, improve hydration, enhance liver function, and help your body process anesthesia more effectively. Remember, any amount of alcohol before surgery is risky—it's not worth the danger.

Be Honest With Your Doctor

If you're having surgery, be completely honest with your doctor about how much you drink. Doctors are there to help, not judge. Withholding information puts your life at risk. Specify how much and how often you drink. If you think you might struggle to stop drinking before surgery, your doctor can help you create a plan. Note that if your body depends on alcohol, stopping suddenly can cause alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Also, if you drink before surgery, your doctor may cancel or reschedule the operation.

When Can You Drink Again After Surgery?

The timing depends on the type of surgery and how long you're taking prescribed medications. For major surgeries, it might be weeks or months. Because alcohol affects swelling, bleeding, and infection, it's best to wait until you're fully healed and off all medications. Always ask your doctor when it's safe to drink after your specific operation. Even if you feel better, wait for your doctor's approval.

How to Prepare for Surgery: 8 Tips

• Abstain from alcohol: As discussed, drinking before surgery is dangerous. At a minimum, avoid alcohol for 48 hours beforehand, but it's best to stop a couple of weeks earlier.
• Don't smoke: Smoking reduces your body's ability to heal and increases anesthesia risks. Cut back or quit well in advance.
• Drink plenty of water: Surgery stresses the body and raises dehydration risk. Aim for at least six 8-ounce glasses of water daily.
• Eat healthy foods: Choose nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods like lean protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and nuts to keep your body strong.
• Be physically active: With your doctor's okay, exercise before surgery to aid recovery and reduce complications. Even a daily 20–30 minute walk helps.
• Practice mindfulness: Reduce anxiety by focusing on your breath and allowing thoughts to pass without judgment.
• Practice relaxation techniques: Try meditation, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, aromatherapy, or yoga to lower stress and support recovery.
• Follow pre-surgery instructions and medications: Adhere to your doctor's directions, including stopping certain medications like blood thinners or NSAIDs if advised.

These steps help protect your health and reduce surgery-related risks like pneumonia, bronchitis, and wound infections. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your doctor—no question is too small when it comes to your health.

The Bottom Line

Drinking alcohol before surgery is dangerous and potentially life-threatening. It can interfere with anesthesia, cause excessive bleeding, and lead to other complications. Even one drink in the days before surgery can be harmful. At the very least, avoid alcohol for 48 hours prior to surgery, but stopping one to two weeks ahead is ideal.

If you're having trouble controlling your alcohol intake, consider trying Quitemate. It has helped millions of people reduce their alcohol consumption and improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.