How Long After a Tonsillectomy Can You Drink Alcohol?

Why two weeks matters

The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS leaflet for adults says “Smoking and alcohol should be avoided for two weeks post-operatively.” The same leaflet says bleeding can occur up to 2 weeks after the operation, and that any episode of fresh bright red bleeding needs urgent medical attention (return to your nearest A&E in the UK, or the emergency department elsewhere).

It also says the sore throat can last up to 2 weeks and can be very painful, with pain at its worst between days 3 and 7. It advises avoiding hot and spicy foods because they irritate the throat. We did not find an official source that sets a single national waiting time, so your surgeon’s written discharge advice comes first.

Alcohol and pain relief

Most people take painkillers after this surgery. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) lists these possible reactions when alcohol is mixed with common medicines:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol): liver damage, stomach upset.
• Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs: stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers.
• Opioids (for example Percocet, Vicodin): drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk of overdose and slowed or difficult breathing.

NIAAA says your pharmacist or other health care provider can help you work out which medicines interact harmfully with alcohol.

What to do

• Ask your surgeon or pharmacist before the first drink, especially if you still take any painkiller.
• Use our standard drink calculator only after you have been cleared to drink.
• Seek urgent care for fresh bright red bleeding.