Day Drinking: The Hidden Dangers

Understanding Day Drinking Culture

What Is Considered Day Drinking?

Day drinking is a popular term for drinking alcohol during the day, especially at social gatherings. 

According to Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, day drinking is a colloquial term among young adults as portrayed on TV shows and social media. Images of young people day drinking reflect a glamorized day of fun activities and social drinking under the sun.

Day drinking is associated with social gatherings like having a beer at a barbecue or during a St. Patrick’s Day parade and a bottomless mimosa at brunch. Drinking culture has a long and complicated history with overconsumption and alcohol abuse. Thus, the social aspect of day drinking further highlights how social context influences when, how, and why people drink.

The types of alcoholic beverages consumed by day drinkers often differ significantly from the alcohol consumed at night during happy hour at an upscale bar and a dive bar. Some of the most popular alcoholic beverages among day drinkers include champagne, vodka, and beer. Unsurprisingly, one of the main ingredients of a mimosa and a Bloody Mary, respectively, is champagne and vodka, while beer is deeply associated with tailgating and other weekend sporting events. Other popular mixers include juices and sodas.

On the other hand, drinking at night is more associated with a glass of wine and hard drinks like whiskey and rum. An alcoholic beverage consumed during the day versus the night highlights a distinction in night and day drinking culture.

Why Has Day Drinking Become So Popular in Los Angeles?

Day drinking in Los Angeles has become popular due to Los Angeles’s association with nice weather, many outdoor spaces, and a leisurely, laid-back culture that enjoys social gatherings. 

Media and social media reflect an oasis where trends are born and social activities, from beach days to brunch and dinner at exclusive restaurants, are abundant. Easy access to social events like rooftop bars, brunch, and live performances, along with pressure to present a fun, desirable life online, makes day drinking in Los Angeles even more popular.

How Events Like Brunch and Happy Hour Encourage Day Drinking?

Much like the phrase “it’s five o’clock somewhere,” terms like day drinking, brunch, and happy hour have been used to pop culturize and normalize day drinking and excessive drinking as socially acceptable. 

Catchy buzzwords build connections among groups of people that businesses use to sell their products. Restaurants and bars with bottomless deals and happy hour drink specials, in particular, capitalize on these social gatherings.

Trendy words and marketing allow brunch and happy hour to supersede marketing to an invaluable part of culture and society. As noted in Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, the number of drinks increases during happy hour specials, due to low prices and frequent alcohol promotions.

Identity, celebration, and timing provide an excuse to engage in activities and behaviors that would otherwise be considered taboo.

How Common Is Day Drinking?

Day drinking is relatively common, especially in social settings like brunches, outdoor gatherings, and holiday celebrations, and has become more popular among younger adults. 

Young adults may engage in daytime alcohol consumption at least occasionally, often associating it with leisure and social activities. While not as frequent as nighttime drinking for many, it is a recognized and widespread practice in certain cultures and communities.

Social Normalization of Alcohol Use

How Do Media and Social Settings Influence Drinking Habits?

Media and social settings influence drinking habits through culture, social norms, and belonging. 

Some of the other ways media and social media influence drinking culture include:

• Advertising: Advertising, through traditional and social media, promotes alcohol as normal and enjoyable, suggesting it makes social occasions more fun and portrays drinking as a rite of passage.
• Branding and Contests: Branding and contests involve product placements of alcoholic beverages in films, TV shows, and online content, where characters often drink to self-medicate or binge drink. 
• Traditional and New Media Influencers: Many young people idolize celebrities, musicians, athletes, YouTubers, streamers, and content creators who often promote their own or others’ alcohol brands.
• Glamorization: Movies, TV shows, music, and even podcasts can glamorize drinking alcohol as fun, highlighting only its positive aspects and omitting negative consequences such as hangovers, anxiety, depressive feelings, risky behaviors, drunk driving, and unsafe sex.
• Family and Friends: Seeing family and friends drinking can encourage normalization, peer pressure, which influences drinking behavior. 

Why Do People Associate Brunch or a Mimosa With Relaxation?

Brunch and, by association, mimosas offer a more leisurely approach to dining with friends and family as a social event. 

Social occasions, while often viewed as exciting and fun, can also feel time-consuming and leave many feeling pressured to be “on” or the life of the party. Brunch offers the same opportunity for social gathering, but with less pressure to perform.

The desire to take a break from a society that emphasizes a fast-paced life often comes with guilt and judgment from others. Thus, the weekend ritual of brunch also gives many people an excuse to relax after a long work day.

Brunch also allows people to view each other’s drinking habits through rose-colored glasses, where a bottomless mimosa and several Bloody Marys are not met with the same scrutiny, judgment, or concern normally associated with excessive drinking.

When Does Social Drinking Cross Into Risky Behavior?

Several signs of social drinking crossing into risky behavior often get overlooked because the line between social drinking and alcohol abuse is razor-thin: 

• Drinking alcohol greatly impairs your functioning
• Your judgment becomes impaired, and you engage in more risky behaviors
  • Driving under the influence
  • Swimming while under the influence
  • Unsafe sex
  • Engaging in activities that could lead to serious physical injury
• You have to drink more than you used to drink to achieve the same effects
• Your drinking is causing problems for you at home, work, or school
  • Missing classes
  • Being late to work the next day
• Continuing to drink even when it makes you feel anxious or depressed
• You rely on alcohol to relax
• Drinking alcohol to cope with difficult emotions
• Binge drinking alcohol
• The frequency of your drinking has increased
• Learned behavior and misconceptions
  • Growing up in a family where excessive drinking during social gatherings is common
  • Belief that drinking in social settings is necessary to enhance positive emotions and social experiences
• Turning to alcohol to deal with life stressors
  • Relationship conflict
  • Job loss
  • Financial issues

Health and Safety Risks of Day Drinking

How Does Drinking Alcohol Early in the Day Affect the Body?

Day drinking can leave you feeling tired, anxious, dehydrated, and even more inebriated than you intended. 

Listed below are some of the whys behind your exhaustion, anxiety, and other ways day drinking can affect your body:

• Feeling tired
• Dehydration
• Mood
• Hangovers
• Intoxication

What Are the Short-Term Risks of Day Drinking?

The short-term risks of day drinking are:

• Increased risk of accidents and injuries due to impaired coordination and judgment
• More likely to be intoxicated and experience more hangovers
• Increase in risky behavior
• Greater chance of polysubstance use
• Increased risk of higher overall consumption

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Frequent Day Drinking?

Frequent day drinking can lead to liver damage, heart problems, mental health issues, dependence, sleep disturbances, a weakened immune system, and social or work-related difficulties.

The long-term risks of day drinking are:

• Greater chance for heavy episodic drinking and high-intensity drinking
• Increased risk for mental health issues
• Greater chance of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Increased risk for serious health problems

Recognizing Problematic Drinking Patterns

How Many Drinks Are Too Many During the Day?

Listed below are guidelines for drinking patterns that exceed moderate or safe consumption for a standard alcoholic beverage containing 0.6 fl oz or 14 grams of pure alcohol:

• Binge drinking: Five or more standard drinks for a typical male adult in about two hours, and four or more standard drinks for a typical female in about two hours
• High-intensity drinking or binge drinking level II and III: 10 or more standard drinks for a male and eight or more standard drinks for a female
• Heavy drinking: Five or more drinks on any day or 15 or more drinks per week for males and four or more drinks on any day or eight or more drinks per week for females

Impact on Mental Health and Daily Life

How Can Day Drinking Affect Mood and Productivity?

Day drinking can cause mood swings, decreased concentration, fatigue, and reduced productivity due to its impact on brain chemistry and energy levels.

Some of the ways day drinking impacts your mood and productivity include:

• Increased risk for mood swings, such as irritability and anger
• Greater chance of low mood and tiredness
• Impaired judgment and concentration
• Increased risk of anxiety and depression
• Slowed reaction time and impaired coordination
• Increased risk for social withdrawal, leading to self-isolation and loneliness

Treatment and Recovery Options at Profound Treatment

Why Choose Profound Treatment for Alcohol Detox in Los Angeles?

Our comprehensive, evidence-based inpatient alcohol detox program offers an approach to care for whole-person recovery.

The root of alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder (AUD) can stem from a variety of factors, including self-medicating difficult emotions, genetics, or to enhance your mood and experience in social situations. Therefore, a whole-person approach to care is invaluable to addressing your unique needs and experiences for long-term recovery.

At Profound Treatment, we offer a luxury recovery center, where holistic, personalized care is at the heart of our work. Through our medical detox program, you can find 24/7 medical supervision and monitoring, psychological care, and medication management to manage withdrawal in a safe and comfortable environment.

Moreover, medical detox better prepares you to smoothly transition from detox to an alcohol treatment program and continuing care services.

What Happens During Medical Detox From Alcohol?

Our medical detox aims to ensure safety and stability while your body adjusts to the absence of alcohol, often lasting several days to a week. 

How Does Profound Support Clients After Detox?

Whether transitioning from detox to alcohol rehab or stepping down to a residential program, there is a treatment plan for you. 

In our vibrant Los Angeles community, you will find support, guidance, and accountability from clinicians and peer support during treatment.

Some of the other treatment services you can benefit from in our inpatient program include:

• Dual diagnosis for co-occurring disorders
• Comprehensive therapies and modalities, including Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
  • Art and music therapy
  • Yoga and mindfulness meditation
  • Nutrition
• Specialized programs
  • Transgender residential program and other LGBTQIA+ treatment programs
  • Treatment programs for working professionals

At Profound Treatment, we are committed to providing ongoing support for long-term recovery post-treatment because recovery is a lifelong process. Our Profound community is here to support you as you make this profound change toward healing as a whole person.

FAQs

What is day drinking slang for?

Day drinking slang refers to consuming alcohol during daytime hours, often in a social setting such as brunches, picnics, or outdoor events. 

It is sometimes associated with casual or recreational drinking and can carry connotations of relaxing or socializing in the evening. The slang can also include terms like “day drinker” or phrases that emphasize drinking in the daytime to enjoy leisure and outdoor activities.

Does Drinking Alcohol Increase Your Heart Rate?

Yes, drinking alcohol can cause an increase in heart rate initially, as it affects the nervous system and blood vessels. 

This temporary rise in heart rate is part of the body’s response to alcohol’s stimulant effects. However, excessive or chronic drinking can lead to longer-term heart problems, such as high blood pressure, arrhythmias, or cardiomyopathy. It’s important to understand that while moderate alcohol intake may have temporary effects, heavy drinking poses serious health risks to the heart.

Why would someone drink alcohol every day?

Someone might drink alcohol daily to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression, using it as a way to temporarily escape or relax. 

Others may develop a routine or habit of daily drinking due to social pressure, cultural norms, or addiction. In some cases, daily drinking is reinforced by habits or environments where alcohol is readily accessible and associated with positive feelings or social bonding. Over time, this can lead to dependency or health concerns.

How do I find help for a loved one who drinks daily?

To find help for a loved one who drinks daily, start by expressing your concern in a non-judgmental way and encourage open communication.

You can seek guidance from healthcare professionals, addiction counselors, or support organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous for advice and resources. It’s important to educate yourself about alcohol use disorder and consider involving trained professionals to develop a supportive and effective plan for intervention and treatment.

Does drinking lots of water detox the liver?

No, drinking lots of water does not directly detox the liver, as the liver naturally detoxifies the body by processing toxins, including alcohol. 

Staying hydrated by drinking glasses of water can support overall health and help the liver function more efficiently, but it doesn’t expedite the detoxification process or remove alcohol from the system. The best way to support liver health is to limit alcohol intake, maintain a healthy diet, and avoid toxins.

Does drinking lots of water detox the liver?

Can I detox on my own?

Generally, you should not detox alone because withdrawal from alcohol or drugs can cause serious health problems, including seizures, dehydration, and even life-threatening complications. 

You should always consult a healthcare professional to determine the severity of your drinking habits and/or addiction.

Additionally, without medical supervision, it’s difficult to manage symptoms safely, which could lead to dangerous situations. Professional detox programs provide the necessary support, medication, and care to ensure safety during this process. It’s important to seek medical help when considering detoxing from substance use.

Media and social media have contributed to cultural views of day drinking as a fun and harmless trend. However, much like social drinking in general, day drinking can be a slippery slope into misuse and abuse. If you are concerned about your drinking, call Profound Treatment at (833) 737-3422 to learn how a personalized treatment plan in medical detox and alcohol rehab can support you.