Day Drinking: Fun or Risky?

A mimosa at brunch, a margarita by the pool, an ice-cold beer at a barbecue—many people love enjoying a cold drink on a warm day. Day drinking is often portrayed in popular culture as a relaxing, fun way to unwind. But is it really as harmless as it seems?

In this article, we’ll explore how drinking during the day affects your body, why it can be dangerous, and how you can enjoy it responsibly.

How Day Drinking Affects Your Body

While day drinking might seem like innocent fun, it can have serious consequences. Alcohol carries risks no matter when you drink it, but day drinking presents unique challenges. Your body doesn’t process alcohol differently based on the time of day, but the effects you feel can vary. Here are five key risks:

1. Leads to Excessive Drinking

Day drinking often happens in social settings like brunches or barbecues, where food is involved. Eating while drinking slows alcohol absorption, which is good, but it might also lead you to drink more to feel the same effects. Long events can stretch drinking over hours, increasing total consumption. Sugary drinks like margaritas are especially risky—sugar slows alcohol absorption, which might tempt you to drink faster or more to feel tipsy.

2. Disrupts Sleep

Ever dozed off on the couch after a boozy brunch? Alcohol is a depressant that slows brain activity and can make you sleepy. While it might help you nap, it actually reduces sleep quality. If you drink heavily during the day and still have alcohol in your system at bedtime, it can disrupt your nighttime rest. Napping after drinking can also make it harder to sleep well later.

3. Negatively Impacts Mood

Alcohol initially boosts dopamine, creating a "feel-good" high, but that euphoria is short-lived. As the effects wear off, dopamine levels drop, often leaving you feeling down or depressed. This contrast can be stark, and the slump might last into the next day, contributing to hangxiety—anxiety during a hangover.

4. Increases Dehydration Risk

Day drinking often pairs with summer activities like pool parties or beach outings. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you lose water through urine. Drinking in the heat amplifies dehydration because you sweat out electrolytes like potassium and magnesium. Dehydration worsens hangovers and can cause headaches. Alcohol also metabolizes into acetaldehyde, which may make your skin more sensitive to UV rays, raising sunburn risk.

5. Raises Accident and Injury Risk

Some people assume they’re more alert when drinking during the day, but alcohol impairs judgment and motor skills regardless of the time. Summer drinking often leads to more accidents, like burns from grills or cuts from mishandled objects. It’s especially dangerous if you think you’re sober enough to drive later—even if you feel fine, your body is still processing alcohol.

Is Day Drinking a Sign of Alcohol Misuse?

Occasional day drinking at events like brunches or ball games doesn’t mean you have a problem. However, if you regularly drink during the day—whether on weekdays or weekends—it could signal alcohol misuse. You might not be physically dependent, but alcohol could be an unhealthy coping mechanism.

Signs of alcohol misuse include:

• Drinking more or longer than intended
• Wanting to cut back but being unable to
• Spending lots of time obtaining, drinking, or recovering from alcohol
• Struggling to function in daily life due to drinking
• Strong cravings for alcohol
• Giving up important activities because of alcohol
• Using alcohol in risky situations
• Continuing to drink despite negative consequences
• Needing more alcohol to feel the same effects (increased tolerance)
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when cutting back

Binge drinking—five or more drinks in two hours for men, four or more for women—is common in alcohol misuse and increases risks like alcohol poisoning and accidents. If day drinking is frequent for you, consider speaking with a healthcare professional.

6 Tips for Safer Day Drinking

If you’re planning to drink during the day, here’s how to manage the risks:

• Plan Ahead: Set drink limits beforehand and stick to them. Use phone reminders to pace yourself—for example, one drink per hour.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink a full glass of water for every alcoholic beverage. This helps hydration, slows alcohol intake, and gives your liver time to process alcohol.
• Count Your Drinks: Use a drink tracker like the one in the Quitemate app or a notes app to log each drink. This raises awareness and helps you review consumption later.
• Sip Slowly: Savor each drink mindfully, noticing flavors and aromas. This enhances enjoyment and reduces intake. Choose drinks that take time to finish, like beer, over quick shots.
• Avoid Mixing Drinks: Stick to one type of alcohol to prevent rapid rises in blood alcohol content and overconsumption. Opt for lower-alcohol options like light beers.
• Eat Food: Never drink on an empty stomach. Eating before or while drinking slows alcohol absorption and helps pace your drinking.

Reducing or eliminating alcohol can benefit your physical and mental health. If you choose to drink, these tips can help you do so more safely.

The Bottom Line

Day drinking, though common, carries risks from overconsumption to dehydration. Occasional daytime drinks aren’t harmful, but if it becomes a regular habit or you overindulge often, it might indicate alcohol misuse.

If you want to cut back on drinking but aren’t sure how, try Quitemate. It’s a neuroscience-backed app that has helped millions reduce alcohol use and build healthier habits.