However, this speedy buzz can also place additional strain on the body. Because the liver prioritises breaking down alcohol, it becomes less effective at maintaining stable blood sugar levels – particularly when someone hasn’t eaten properly. The result can be a sudden drop in blood sugar, causing symptoms such as dizziness, disorientation and weakness.
Raising a glass after or alongside a filling meal also means you are less likely to experience rapid intoxication. “The safest version of daytime drinking is with food,” says Sandra Parker, founder of Just the Tonic Coaching. So wait for that main course to come out before you make that toast.
Nutrition experts also recommend choosing a meal containing carbohydrates – such as pasta, rice or whole grains – alongside healthy fats such as avocado, salmon or cheese. This combination provides slower-releasing energy, helps stabilise blood sugar levels and slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.
You’re probably already dehydrated
Everyone wakes in a “fluid deficit” after going eight or so hours without a glass of water. So if your morning intake has consisted of little more than a cup of coffee and a few sips of water, you may already be dehydrated by the time you order your lunchtime aperitif – and alcohol will only exacerbate the issue, leaving you feeling light-headed after even the first few sips.
“Alcohol is a diuretic [a substance that makes the kidneys produce more urine], meaning more trips to the loo, and loss of water and nutrients from our body,” explains Dr Richard Piper, the chief executive of Alcohol Change UK.
Long, hot days of summer can create a “dehydration double whammy” that leaves you light-headed and feeling tipsy far more quickly, he adds, because “hot weather means we sweat more and expel water this way too”.
This lack of fluid can result in symptoms including “headaches, dizziness, sickness and fatigue”, Dr Piper adds. “This makes it even more important to drink plenty of water and stay as hydrated as possible throughout the day.”
Dr Piper recommends keeping alcohol consumption as low as possible in hot weather, noting that, “after all, alcohol is never essential; and non-alcoholic beers, wines and mocktails can be perfect in the summer”.
Another technique for consuming less booze is to alternate between an alcoholic drink and a glass of water. This approach, sometimes known as “zebra striping”, slows the pace of alcohol consumption and keeps you hydrated. Plus, Dr Piper notes, “if you go for tap water, you can also halve your spending!”