Drinking Alcohol Before a Tattoo: Why It Is a Bad Idea

A drink to calm the nerves before a tattoo can seem like a good idea, especially if it is your first one or you are worried about the pain. It is not. Alcohol before a tattoo can make the session harder, the result worse and the healing slower, and many studios will turn you away if they think you have been drinking.

Here is why you should not drink before a tattoo, how long to wait, and what about drinking afterwards.

Why alcohol and tattoos do not mix

1. More bleeding

Alcohol affects the way your blood clots and widens blood vessels, which can make you bleed more during a tattoo. Extra blood and plasma on the surface make it harder for the artist to see the stencil and lines, and can push ink back out of the skin. That can lead to a patchier result and a longer session.

2. Worse results

Tattoos rely on steady, precise work. If you bleed more, fidget more or cannot sit still, the artist has a harder job, and the chance of uneven lines or needing a touch up goes up.

3. You cannot give proper consent

Before a tattoo, you are asked to confirm your design, placement and health information, and usually to sign a consent form. If you are drunk, you are not in a fit state to make that decision. Many areas require studios to refuse service to anyone who appears intoxicated, and reputable artists will do so anyway.

4. It does not really help the pain

A drink might take the edge off nerves, but it will not make a tattoo painless, and a hangover can make you feel worse. Dehydration and low blood sugar can also make you more likely to feel faint. Our guide to tattoo pain by body part has better ways to prepare.

5. Regret

Impulsive tattoos after a night out are a classic source of regret. Our breakdown of what people regret most about their tattoos shows how often rushed decisions lead to cover ups.

How long before a tattoo should you stop drinking?

The common advice from tattoo artists is to avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment. If you drank heavily the night before, the effects, including dehydration, can still be there the next day, so consider rescheduling rather than going in hungover.

What about the night after a tattoo?

It is best to avoid alcohol for at least the first 24 to 48 hours after getting tattooed, while the tattoo is weeping most. Drinking can:

• Increase swelling and oozing.
• Dehydrate your body and skin, which does not help healing.
• Make you less careful: sleeping badly on the tattoo, knocking it or forgetting aftercare.
• Put you in bars, clubs or crowded places where a fresh tattoo can be bumped, rubbed or exposed to dirt.

Our guides to sleeping with a new tattoo and the full healing timeline explain how to protect it in those first days.

Other things to avoid before your tattoo

• Blood thinning medicines: some painkillers, such as aspirin, can increase bleeding. Do not stop any prescribed medication without speaking to your doctor, but tell your artist what you take.
• Recreational drugs: for the same reasons as alcohol, and more.
• Too much caffeine: it can make some people jittery and more sensitive.
• An empty stomach: eat a proper meal beforehand to keep your blood sugar steady.
• Sunburn on the area to be tattooed.

How to prepare instead

• Get a good night's sleep.
• Drink plenty of water in the day before.
• Eat a meal an hour or two before, and bring a sugary drink or snack.
• Wear comfortable clothing that gives access to the area.
• Bring headphones, a book or a friend if allowed.
• Tell your artist if you feel faint or need a break.

Getting your first tattoo? Our first tattoo guide walks you through everything from booking to aftercare.

This guide provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you take regular medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist before your tattoo.