Here’s Why Day Drinking Feels Different

When you think of grabbing a drink, you probably envision a low-lit bar or a late-night dinner. But have you ever tried (or been invited) to day drink? If so, you may have noticed that something about it makes you feel … a bit off.

Whether it’s the early-evening hangover or your body simply not being used to a midday buzz, you may feel some differences in how you react to alcohol during earlier parts of the day.

Addiction psychiatrist Akhil Anand, MD, breaks down why day drinking can feel different — and how it can impact your health.

Why day drinking feels different

Day drinking can sometimes be a part of social gatherings. Whether it’s a Fourth of July barbecue, grabbing a beer at the St. Patrick’s Day parade or tailgating with friends before the big football game, it’s clear that alcohol isn’t always reserved for after-hours.

But as Dr. Anand points out, there are certain risks to drinking during the day. Here are some things to know before toasting before 5 p.m.

Your instinct is to keep the party going

While drinking in the evening usually has a “natural” end, day drinking leaves it open-ended. This increases the risk of overdoing it. Dr. Anand says that if you start drinking earlier in the day, it’s more likely you’ll drink more. You may also feel more peer pressure when participating in day drinking if it’s associated with a celebration of some kind.

It messes with your sleep cycle

You may think that drinking earlier may give your body time to filter through the alcohol before your head hits the pillow. But in fact, day drinking can do just as much harm to your sleep schedule as drinking in the evening.

Drinking during the day can disrupt sleep cycles due to how your circadian rhythm works. “Your sleep cycle follows the sun pattern of the day,” explains Dr. Anand. “Day drinking can cause someone to feel sedated and go to sleep too early.” This can cause sleep disruptions in the middle of the night, causing you to wake up either too early or too late. And so the cycle continues.

It can affect your mood

You may have heard that drinking can cause your anxiety to increase the day after. Day drinking can cause the same symptoms, but instead of hitting you the morning after, the anxious feelings may start the same day.

Plus, as alcohol is a depressant, it’ll bring you down as intensely as it will bring you up. Also, don’t think that you’ll feel more energetic during the day versus drinking at night — you’ll still feel just as drunk no matter what time it is.

You’re at a higher risk of becoming dehydrated

Don’t forget that there are other factors impacting your well-being while you drink. Especially if the sun is beating down during an outdoor event, your body is at a higher risk for dehydration when you drink during the day.

Morning drinking may be a red flag

Having a mimosa with brunch is one thing, but as Dr. Anand explains, you should be careful when it comes to any kind of alcoholic beverage first thing in the morning. Once in a while is fine, but if you start needing a drink as soon as you start the day, it may be a sign of addiction.

And if you find that your day drinking is inching earlier and earlier into the day and if it’s becoming a common occurrence instead of an occasional celebration, you may want to consult a healthcare provider.

How to practice safe day drinking

If you do decide to partake in a drink or two during daytime celebrations, it’s still important to stay safe and be mindful of your health.

Here are some safe drinking habits to practice:

• Alcohol shouldn’t be the first drink of the day. Again, there will be times when you may want to indulge in a brunch-related drink or an early morning tailgate, but try to make sure alcohol isn’t your first beverage. Start the day hydrated with a hefty glass of water or two and eat a balanced meal before partaking in day drinking.
• Pace yourself. When the day is long and you’re having fun with friends, make sure to pay attention to the number of drinks you’re having. Drink enough water throughout the day and take things slow — checking in with yourself and how you feel after each drink. Remember that consuming four or more drinks a day for women and people assigned female at birth and five or more a day for men and people assigned male at birth counts as binge drinking.
• Be wary of peer pressure. When day drinking, you’re more likely to be in public spaces with crowds (think: a concert or tailgate), which can lend itself to peer pressure to drink. Dr. Anand highlights the importance of paying attention to who you’re with and sticking to your own drinking boundaries. Maybe you have a trustworthy friend that you can check in with about how you’re feeling throughout the day. You can also pack your own nonalcoholic beverage options or waters to switch to when you’ve hit the limit you’ve set for yourself. Planning ahead and giving yourself options can help ensure you don’t overdo it.
• Have a stop time. Give yourself a limit. While having a night out with friends may end when the bar closes, a day of afternoon drinking means you need to give yourself a hard stop. For example, if you’re starting celebrations at 3 p.m., tell yourself you’ll have your last drink no later than 5 p.m.

Remember that you should never feel pressured to drink during the day if you don’t want to. Depending on your own health, preferences and comfort level, you might decide to forgo that glass of wine or beer with friends if it feels too early for you, which is totally OK! In fact, there are a variety of nonalcoholic options you can enjoy while still celebrating a daytime event. These are also great options to turn to after you’ve had a drink or two, to help ensure you don’t overdo it when the festivities continue.