There’s nothing quite like a cold drink in the sun. But plenty of us have finished a long afternoon in the beer garden and woken up the next day looking a little pink. Is that just the hours in the sun, or does the alcohol play a part?

The short answer: probably both. Here’s what the research says.

Drinkers get sunburnt more often

Large surveys keep finding the same pattern:

  • A US survey of nearly 300,000 adults found that people who binge drink were more likely to report sunburn than people who don’t.
  • In the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2024 survey, almost one in five people who had been sunburnt said they were drinking alcohol when it happened.

Surveys like these show a link, not a cause. Part of it is simple behaviour: after a few drinks, it’s easy to forget to reapply sunscreen, stay out longer than planned, or not notice your skin starting to burn.

Alcohol may also make your skin burn faster

There’s some evidence that alcohol affects the skin itself. In a small German study, men who drank alcohol had lower levels of protective antioxidants in their skin afterwards, and their skin went red with less UV than before.

When they drank the same alcohol mixed with orange juice, the drop didn’t happen. It’s an interesting result, but the study only had six people, so treat it as a hint rather than a rule.

How to enjoy the sun without the burn

You don’t need to skip the beer garden. A few simple habits make a big difference:

  • Put sunscreen on before the first drink. It’s much easier to remember while you’re still thinking about it. Reapply every two hours.
  • Check the UV index. The Cancer Council recommends sun protection whenever the UV index is 3 or above, even on a mild or cloudy day.
  • Bring a hat and sunglasses. They do a lot of the work for you.
  • Alternate with water. It keeps you hydrated in the heat and slows the pace.
  • Move into the shade in the middle of the day. UV is strongest around midday, so the late afternoon sun is a gentler option.

Summing up

Drinking doesn’t directly make sunburn worse, but it makes it more likely: we forget to protect ourselves and we stay out longer. Put sunscreen on early and keep it topped up, and you can enjoy the sunshine without paying for it the next day.

When you’re ready to head out, Sunny shows you pubs and beer gardens in the sun right now. And if you’d rather catch the gentler evening sun, our guide to which beer gardens get the most sun can help you pick the right spot.

This post is general information, not medical advice. Header photo by George Cox on Unsplash.