How to Drink Daily Without Overdoing
Warm weather and alcoholic drinks go hand in hand. A beer on the beach, a mojito by the pool, a hidden flask at your niece’s prom—the afternoon drink is different from the glass of wine at dinner.
I say this as sensibly as possible: I like to drink during the day. We’ve already written about the benefits of using jam to make your morning drink , as well as how to make the perfect drink in your backyard . You never know when a chilly outdoor party might turn into a full-blown darty (day + party). (Not to be confused with the much lower “dage” or “day + fury” purse.)
As with any endurance event, daytime drinking comes down to strategy. My student strategy to make myself vomit and then “rally” is not what doctors would call “sustainable” or “recommended” or “good.” Here are our tips to help you stay safe and make the most of your sunny drunken day.
Walk yourself
This is a marathon, not a sprint. The number one part of the guide that informs all of the tips below is how to control your alcohol intake. Don’t think your tolerance for multiple drinks in quick succession at night will work for you at your neighbor’s afternoon barbecue.
We’ll look at the need for food and drink throughout the day, but it’s also important to be mindful of the amount and type of alcohol you’re drinking. Summer cocktails can be dangerously refreshing – pay attention to how much and how quickly you sip them. (To really be in the know, here’s the easiest way to calculate your drink’s ABV .)
It’s no secret that sucking one or two bottles of beer for an hour is much easier than sticking a straw in a margarita pitcher. The old advice is to drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink . On this note…
Refuel and rehydrate
Alcohol dehydrates you. When you drink on a summer day, the risk of dehydration increases due to your enemy the sun. And while you don’t have to worry about ” breaking the seal ,” you still need to urinate more when you drink, meaning you’re losing more water than you’re gaining. It is always important to drink water while drinking alcohol . , but you should be even more mindful of your hydration efforts when drinking on a hot day.
I hope you had a hearty breakfast and did not start drinking on an empty stomach. Luckily, one of the biggest benefits of daytime drinking is that it’s usually accompanied by barbecues and snacks in the kitchen. Food slows down the absorption of alcohol, so it’s in your best interest to snack.
Take breaks from the heat
Sun exposure exacerbates the dehydration that occurs with alcohol. As a safety tip, it’s best to avoid alcohol or keep it to a minimum on the hottest days. Dehydration can alleviate heat sickness , which can be life-threatening in extreme cases.
Also, since alcohol impairs your judgment, you make yourself even more susceptible to nasty sunburn .
Be extra careful on the water
If you’re on a boat, first of all, I’m jealous. Second: be careful. If you drink near a body of water, be aware that alcohol increases your risk of drowning in many ways . In fact, as we said earlier , 70 percent of outdoor recreation-related drowning deaths were alcohol-related . Even strong swimmers who jump or fall into the water while intoxicated are at risk. (Another good addition to any daytime drinking activity: a life jacket .)
To be smart
Daylight may give you the illusion that you’re thinking more about yourself than when you’re drunk in a dark bar, but alcohol is still calming. It impairs your judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time.
As you get drunker during the day, the typical midnight shenanigans can stop at 3pm. Put your phone in a safe place – away from potential water damage and your temptation to send drunk texts that will look much worse in the light of a sober day.
And if you had a great time – which I sincerely hope – here are the best hangover cures at your disposal.