Sun, Summer and Alcohol

Why the Warmer Weather Can Be a Drinking Trigger

Sunshine can be a powerful trigger to drink more alcohol,  but it doesn't have to be. Understand the habit, the advertising, and what actually helps this summer.

A bit premature maybe, but I can almost smell the summer. After what feels like a very long winter, there's a real bounce in the air if you're anything like me, you're noticing it in your step too.

But I know that for a lot of women, sunshine brings something else alongside the good mood. A pull towards alcohol. A sense that a cold glass of something is just part of the picture.

And here's the irony: alcohol dehydrates you. It is literally one of the worst things you can put in your body when it's warm. It affects your skin, your sleep, your energy, none of which are helped by adding heat to the mix. The best thing you can reach for when the sun is out is water, or a genuinely refreshing soft drink or alcohol-free alternative.

And yet. The pull is real. So let's talk about where it actually comes from.

It's a Habit And Advertising Made It One

A lot of what we feel as desire is actually association and good marketing.

Sun, cold beer. Holiday, wine by the pool. BBQ, fizzy rosé. These connections feel natural and personal, but they are largely manufactured. The alcohol industry has spent decades and billions of pounds linking their products to warmth, relaxation, celebration and reward. It is some of the most effective advertising ever created.

When you understand that, the craving starts to look a little different. It's not really you wanting a drink. It's a habit loop that was built over years, partly by your own experience, and partly by an industry with a very clear financial interest in keeping it going.

Alcohol makes a lot of money.

Knowledge is power here. Once you can see the mechanism, you have more choice about whether to follow it.

Holidays and the Particular Challenge of "All-Inclusive"

When I worked in alcohol services, I heard it regularly: "It was a sunny day and I just went to the pub, it's a massive trigger for me."

Holidays amplify this. If you've always drunk on holiday, the whole experience becomes associated with alcohol, the heat, the freedom from routine, time off, time out. Your brain has filed it all together.

All-inclusive holidays deserve a special mention. I've never done one, partly because I know myself.

There's something about unlimited access, especially if you come from a background where you were taught to make the most of what's on offer, that makes moderation feel almost impossible. If you're working on your relationship with alcohol, it's worth being honest with yourself about whether that kind of environment is going to support you or undermine you.

That's not judgement. That's just self-awareness.

Practical Things That Actually Help

If summer and sunshine are triggers for you, here are some things worth thinking about before the season gets going properly.

Know your association. Are you someone who drinks more in summer? On holiday? At BBQs? Ask yourself: what is this holiday or this sunny day actually for? Relaxation? Family time? Rest? How else can you get those things?

Sort your alcohol-free drinks before you need them. This sounds small but it matters enormously. Have something genuinely delicious ready, a good AF gin, sparkling water with fruit, whatever you actually enjoy. Don't leave yourself with the choice between cheap orange juice and everyone else's wine. The AF drinks market has transformed in the last few years and there are genuinely good options now.

Think about who you're with. If you're going on holiday or to events with people who drink regularly, a bit of preparation helps. Can you tell them in advance that you're not drinking? Getting those conversations out of the way before you arrive means you're not navigating them when you're already hot, tired and getting caught up in people pleasing.

Have a plan for when things go sideways. Holidays aren't always relaxing. Things go wrong, family tension, children being difficult, friends falling out, flights delayed. These are the moments when old habits kick in hardest. Think in advance about what actually helps you when you're stressed: a walk on your own, music, a swim, a podcast, some time out. Whatever works for you at home can work on holiday too. 

Remember it's a short window. A holiday is 7, 10 or 14 days. Whatever you're working on, this is a brief stretch of time. Remind yourself of that when it feels hard.

What New Habit Could You Build Instead?

This is the question I keep coming back to. Because it's rarely enough to just remove something, the brain needs a replacement.

I love a beach day and a swim in the sea. That feeling of cold water when it's warm outside is, for me, genuinely better than any drink. What's yours? A long walk in the evening light? An ice cream? A morning run before anyone else is up? Starting to associate summer with something else, something that's actually good for you is how the old habit gradually loses its grip.

If You Need Support This Summer

If you're heading into summer feeling wobbly about your drinking, whether that's a holiday coming up, a busy social season, or just the daily pull of sunny evenings, you don't have to navigate it alone.

This Free workshop is a good starting point if you want to understand more about how you can make changes to your drinking.

You can have a genuinely good summer. A better summer, actually. One you remember clearly, with energy, presence and none of the 3am anxiety.

You can create some new sun rituals.

That's worth more than a cold glass of anything.

Women Who Don't Drink is a Community Interest Company supporting women to reduce or stop drinking. For more on drinking less and living more explore our Blog