Alcohol can affect your health and the way your body responds to surgery and treatment. You don’t need to totally avoid alcohol before your operation, but we would advise that you stay below the recommended maximum amounts. Start reducing the amount at least 4 weeks before surgery.
The UK Government recommends for both men and women this is less than 14 units per week, with no more than 3-4 units on any single day.
3-4 units is equivalent to one and a half pints of beer, or two small glasses of wine per day only.
You should avoid alcohol in the 48 hours before your operation.
How can Alcohol impact on my Surgery and medical treatment
Drinking too much alcohol makes it harder for your body to handle the stress of surgery and increases your risk of complications.
Benefits of reducing Alcohol before your surgery or treatment
- healthier immune system
- better wound healing
- faster recovery
- less bleeding and fewer blood transfusions
- better mood, more energy
More information of the Impact of Alcohol On Your surgery
Anaesthesia and medication
Alcohol can reduce your liver function and its ability to deal with the anaesthetic drugs and painkillers used during your operation. Reducing your drinking means your liver can handle these drugs better, so you have a lower chance of experiencing any side effects like nausea and vomiting.
Delayed Healing
Alcohol can be harmful to the immune system and increase the risk of infection. This can make recovery longer. Alcohol can also interfere with the healing process after your surgery such as formation of new tissue, which is essential for healing.
Increased Risk of Bleeding
Alcohol can interfere with blood clotting, which can lead to excessive bleeding and complications during and after surgery.
Longer Hospital Stay
Patients who consume alcohol may require more monitoring and care during their recovery, which can prolong their stay in the hospital.
Alcohol free days are beneficial to your health.
Risk of complications
Risk of Complications:
3 – 5 Units per day = 50% Risk Increase
More than 5 units per day = 300% Risk Increase
Reducing Alcohol Before Surgery
Any amount of alcohol you cut back will help reduce the risks during surgery, but the goal should be to get down to safe levels (no more than 14 units per week).
If you think you are drinking excessively, you should not stop suddenly. It’s safer to gradually reduce until you reach the recommended limits.
It is best to be drinking within safe limits for at least 6 to 8 weeks before surgery to get the most benefit and reduce the risk of complications.
Top Tips
- Make a plan: set limits before drinking and stick to them.
- Set a budget for alcohol.
- Let friends and family know, they can provide support!
- Take one day at a time.
- Drink smaller measures or lower alcohol alternatives.
- Make every other drink a glass of water.
- Have alcohol free days every week.
- Try and drink within safe limits (less than 14 units per week) for 6-8 weeks before your operation.
How much am I actually drinking?
For both men and women this is less than 14 units per week, with no more than 3-4 units on any single day.
| Alcoholic drink type | Alcoholic units |
| 1 Pint of beer, lager or cider at 4% ABV | 2.2 units |
| A 330ml bottle of beer, lager or cider at 4.5% ABV | 1.5 units |
| A 175ml glass of wine at 12.5% ABV | 2.2 units |
| A 250ml glass of wine at 12.5% ABV | 3.1 units |
| A 750ml bottle of wine at 12.5% ABV | 9.8 units |
| A 25ml measure of spirits at 40% ABV | 1 unit |
Public Health Scotland
Count14 Website: Helps people calculate how much they are drinking and offers advice https://count14.scot
Support for Cutting Down
- Speak to your GP and ask for local services which may include counselling.
- ECLA Counselling Service: Offers help to people worried about their drinking or someone else’s. They provide drop-in services, advice, and one-on-one counselling. ELCA Counselling Service
- Pre assessment clinic: Be honest about the amount you drink as this will help staff care for you. They can give you help to reduce and make sure you are prescribed the correct amount of medication.
NHS Lothian Wellbeing: Provides tools and information on how to improve mental health and reduce alcohol use.
Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP) – NHS Lothian | Our Services
Alcohol/Substance Issues – Wellbeing Lothian
Drink aware: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk
