Your questions about having a tinkle after a tipple, answered
Note: The NHS recommends that you drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread across at least three days.
We’ve all been there: you’re enjoying yourself and a few drinks in, when suddenly, you need to go to the loo. And then, from that point onwards, your toilet trips feel more frequent than normal.
‘Breaking the seal’ and needing to pee more when drinking alcohol are two common myths – but is there any truth to them? We look at the science and if your favourite tipple is sending you to the toilet.
Does alcohol affect your need to pee?
In short, yes – alcohol has diuretic effects, which means that it causes the kidneys to produce more urine than normal. Alcohol suppresses the production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in the body, signalling to your body to produce more urine which leads to more toilet trips.
This can dehydrate your body, so can cause classic hangover symptoms like headaches and nausea.
It’s important to remember that while alcohol might make you pee more, you should be able to get to the toilet in time, and it shouldn’t cause urinary incontinence (when you can’t control when you pass urine).
Do different alcoholic drinks make you pee more?
Have you ever noticed that drinking different alcoholic drinks affects how often you need to pee? You’re not wrong: different factors like ingredients and volume make you more or less likely to produce more urine.
The two main factors are:
- If the drink has a high percentage of alcohol per unit, like spirits or some wines
- If there’s a high volume of fluid per drink, like a pint of beer
Fizz also has a part to play – prosecco and champagne, alongside fizzy mixers like cola or lemonade, contain dissolved carbon dioxide which makes the urine more acidic and irritate the bladder.
Acidic or caffeinated drinks can also irritate the bladder, making you need to pee more. This means that the mixer you choose – like orange juice, cola or coffee – can increase your need to go.
You also might find that drinks affect you differently to your friends and family. Everyone’s alcohol tolerance is different, and that includes which ones make them need to pee.
Are there any other factors?
Yes – smoking, including social smoking when drinking, can also increase your need to pee. This is because nicotine irritates the bladder. (And, yes, this includes vaping too, because of the nicotine.)
Is ‘breaking the seal’ a real thing?
A phrase jokingly tossed around, ‘breaking the seal’ is the idea that once you pee while drinking, you’ll have a more increased need to pee. But is this actually true?
The answer is no – ‘breaking the seal’ isn’t a real thing.
It’s important to remember that if you need to pee, you shouldn’t hold it in. Holding in urine repeatedly may increase your risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) or affect your bladder’s connection to the brain, letting you know when you need to pee.
Of course, as we’ve discussed already, alcohol in general can increase your need to use the loo – but breaking the seal doesn’t.
How can you stop peeing so much when drinking alcohol?
The only way to do this is to limit your alcoholic drinks and stay hydrated. Try to drink a glass of water between every drink or opt for mixers like soda water that can help keep you hydrated.
Frequently asked questions
Why does beer make you pee more than wine?
As discussed above, a range of factors mean that alcoholic drinks may affect your body differently. Due to the volume of beer, alongside the fact that some are fizzy which irritate your bladder more, you might find that beer makes you need to pee more than wine.
Is it normal to feel burning or pain while peeing after drinking alcohol?
A burning sensation or pain while peeing isn’t common while drinking alcohol. It might be a sign of cystitis.
Is it normal to pee yourself after drinking alcohol?
While alcohol can make you need to pee more, it shouldn’t cause urinary incontinence (when you can’t control when you pass urine). However, drinking heavily may make you lose control of your bodily functions, which might mean you pass urine before getting to the toilet.
However, this shouldn’t continue afterwards. If you have incontinence, speak to your GP for more tailored advice.
