‘Can you drink alcohol with a stoma?’ is a common question asked by ostomates who want to continue living as normal following surgery, but don’t want to cause problems with their stoma. The simple answer is that having a stoma doesn’t mean you have to give up alcohol. However, there are some important considerations to be aware of to help you drink safely and avoid complications.
In this guide, we’ll explain how alcohol affects ostomates, what to watch out for, and practical tips to help you enjoy a drink while managing your stoma confidently. We cover advice for colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy patients.
Can you drink alcohol with a stoma?
Yes, you can drink alcohol with a stoma. Your stoma is unlikely to have an impact on your alcohol tolerance. How much you have eaten, how hydrated you are, your weight, how often you drink alcohol, and your general health will all still impact how fast you get drunk.
However, you do need to check with your doctor that alcohol won’t interfere with any medication you are taking.
Drinking alcohol with a stoma – things to consider
Whilst it is safe to drink alcohol with a stoma, there are some factors you will need to consider following surgery:
Dehydration
Drinking alcohol can quickly lead to dehydration because it is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more and lose more fluid than usual. Plus, drinking too much can cause an upset tummy, leading to diarrhoea and/or vomiting, which can dehydrate you rapidly. Dehydration is one of the key factors that cause typical hangover symptoms such as headache and fatigue.
You need to be especially mindful of this as an ostomate. This is because you have had part of your bowel removed, an organ which absorbs fluid and electrolytes, so you become dehydrated faster. This can be dangerous, especially if you experience high output.
If you have a urostomy, being dehydrated puts you at a high risk of developing a UTI. Learn more: Urostomy problems
How stay hydrated with a stoma
To avoid dehydration, you should drink plenty of water alongside any alcohol – ideally one glass of water for every alcoholic drink. If you are already dehydrated and need to rehydrate fast, opt for drinks to replace lost electrolytes and salts, like:
- Electrolyte sports drinks such as Lucozade
- Oral rehydration sachets like Dioralyte
- Homemade St Mark’s Solution
Signs of dehydration include:
- Feeling thirsty or having a dry mouth
- Headache
- Dark or strong-smelling urine
- Decreased urine output
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Muscle cramps
More frequent bag changes
Alcohol can affect your stoma output, meaning you may need to empty or change your appliance more often than usual. If you’re not prepared for this, it could result in a leak.
As we have already discussed, alcohol has a diuretic effect, causing urostomy bags fill up with urine faster. Not emptying your urostomy bag often enough can lead to UTIs.
If you have a faecal stoma, alcohol can loosen or increase stool. This is because alcohol can irritate the lining of the bowel and make its contents move through it faster. Plus, many alcoholic drinks contain high levels of sugar (such as cocktails and spirits with mixers like Coke) or gluten (such as beer), which your stomach may not handle well. Beer is particularly well known for causing high output.
Ballooning
Be aware that many alcoholic drinks are carbonated, such as beer, sparkling wine, cider, and spirits with fizzy mixers (such as tonic). When you swallow bubbles in drinks, the gas enters your digestive system. It then leaves through your stoma into your pouch, causing it to inflate like a balloon. This can cause discomfort and may compromise the seal of your pouch. Find out more: Stoma bag ballooning
Drinking slowly – avoiding big gulps – is a simple but effective way to reduce ballooning. You could also let your drink sit for a few minutes before consuming it to allow some of the bubbles to go flat. Stirring a drink can help to get rid of bubbles faster.
What alcohol to drink with a stoma
Stoma-friendly alcoholic drinks may include:
- Non-sparkling, low-sugar dry wines like Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Grenache
- Guinness (it is lighter than most beers with fewer calories and a smoother fizz)
- Distilled spirits like vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey, and brandy on the rocks
- Or if you can’t bear the taste, opt for a flat, low-sugar mixer such as blackcurrant squash and water
- Cocktails containing herbal liquers such as Amaro, which aid digestion
However, everyone’s stoma is different. You may find what commonly affects one ostomate doesn’t affect your stoma at all. It’s a good idea to try alcohol in small amounts first and make a note of what, if any, symptoms you experience, and use this to inform your choices.
How to prepare for drinking alcohol
If you are going out to drink, be sure to take stoma supplies with you, even if you don’t plan on emptying or changing your bag. It’s always best to be prepared. You may need:
- Extra pouches
- Medical adhesive remover
- Tissues/wipes in case there is no toilet roll
- Fragrance sprays or drops if you are worried about odour
- Any other products you regularly use
- A Radar Key to unlock disabled loos
You might want to set a timer on your phone or make a note when you last emptied/changed your appliance. This can help you keep track of managing your appliance even when you are busy having fun (and potentially getting a bit tipsy).
Be aware that drinking alcohol may make you sleep more heavily than usual, meaning you don’t wake up to empty your bag. You may wake up to a particularly full bag or potentially a leak. If you experience high output at night, it might be worth setting an alarm to remind you to empty it.
Drinking responsibly with a stoma
Heavy drinking is a health risk for everyone, not just ostomates. Always drink in moderation and know your limits.
You might choose not to drink alcohol and that is absolutely fine. This might be because you find your stoma reacts badly to it, you have health concerns, or you simply don’t want to. You don’t have to explain your choice to anyone; do what is right for you. You can enjoy a soft drink, or many bars have a range of mocktails and non-alcoholic beers and wines available.
Conclusion
Having a stoma doesn’t mean you have to avoid alcohol altogether, but it does mean you need to be more mindful about hydration and how your body responds. With some planning and preparation, you can enjoy a drink safely while managing your stoma.
If you have any concerns about drinking alcohol with your stoma, or if you notice unusual symptoms after drinking, speak to your stoma nurse or doctor for personalised advice.
Although all our articles are written alongside qualified medical professionals, this information is for guidance only and does not replace advice given by your healthcare advisors.
