Is daytime drinking better than drinking at night? Let's settle the debate

If you're one of those whose idea of chilling is either having a glass of wine with dinner or having a raging party with your friends at night, you might wanna rethink your schedule. Don't get us wrong -- drinking any time of the day is harmful to your health and your liver, but we are trying to figure out which could do you worst: day or night. 

Dr Namita Nadar, a Noida-based dietician, says that she doesn't agree that drinking at anytime time of day can be good for you, and we agree. But in this day and age, it is very difficult to avoid alcohol completely - sometimes it's your friend's birthday party or your work party; it is difficult to avoid a sip. Sure we've tried Dry January and then Damp February, and then something or the other, but there is no stop.  

[READ MORE: New TikTok trend Damp Drinking wants to cure your Dry January] 

This brings us to an age-old debate: when is the best time to drink? 

We gave Dr Namita no choice and asked her to choose one, and this was her answer. 

However, in India drinking during the day is not that easy and you will be often shamed by comments about your mental health or people assuming you're an addict.

Before we get into why drinking alcohol at night is harmful... 

Drinking is preferred at night for various reasons. Even though many claim that drinking in moderate amounts at night is okay and can help with problems of anxiety and help you sleep better; for others, drinking during night can be associated with socialising and unwinding after a day's work.

But when DailyO spoke to experts, they had different opinions.

Dr Ankit Gupta, a physician from Noida, says it is best to drink your alcohol at least 4-5 hours before your sleep; or best, during the day. 

There are various reasons for it that he stated.

Here are some of them: 

•  Disruption of sleep: People often complain about how they often wake up in the middle of the night when they are drunk. It's because instead of giving a good night's sleep, alcohol can interfere with the quality and duration of your sleep. According to Dr Ankit, Alcohol is a depressant that can have a sedative effect on the brain, which can make you feel sleepy and relaxed. While alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, it is not recommended as a sleep aid. Why? It may initially make you feel drowsy and help you fall asleep faster, but it can disrupt the later stages of sleep, leading to fragmented and less restful sleep. This can result in fatigue, decreased cognitive function, and overall reduced well-being.

•  Increased dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production and can lead to dehydration. Consuming alcohol at night, especially in large quantities, may exacerbate this effect since you're less likely to replenish fluids during sleep. Dehydration can cause symptoms such as headaches, dry mouth, and dizziness.

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• Weight gain and poor dietary choices: Alcoholic beverages often contain calories without providing substantial nutritional value. Drinking at night, especially in excess, can contribute to weight gain over time.  

Bottom line: Drinking at any time of the day is harmful, be it day or night; but if you've got to choose one, pick a time slot hours before you go to sleep. 

READ MORE: Can you drink 2 pegs of alcohol in a day and be safe? WHO says NO