You cannot drink any liquids during the daily fast in Ramadan, and you cannot drink alcohol at any time according to mainstream Islamic teaching.

Core rule in Ramadan

During the fasting hours (from true dawn/fajr until sunset/maghrib):

  • No drinking at all – this includes water, juice, coffee, etc.
  • No eating or sexual activity during the same hours.
  • If you intentionally drink anything in this period, the fast is broken and usually must be made up later, and in some schools may require an additional expiation depending on circumstances.

After sunset, the fast is over for that day and you may eat and drink normally (within what is halal/allowed).

What about alcohol?

  • Alcohol is considered an intoxicant and is prohibited (haram) in Islam at all times, not just in Ramadan.
  • This prohibition is based on Quranic verses that classify intoxicants as defilement to be avoided and on prophetic teachings warning about their spiritual harm.
  • So even after sunset, when drinking water or juice is fine, drinking alcohol is still religiously forbidden.

An example often given in Islamic articles: someone who fasts all day and then drinks alcohol at night is still violating a clear Islamic rule, even though the fast for that day technically ended at sunset.

Exemptions from fasting (not from alcohol rule)

Certain people are excused from fasting in Ramadan, such as:

  • Children before puberty, frail elderly, and those with serious illness.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women if fasting harms them or the baby.
  • Travelers, menstruating women, and those with specific medical conditions.

Even for those exempt from fasting, the general prohibition on alcohol still applies in standard Islamic law.

If you are struggling or unsure

  • If you have health issues (for example, needing to drink water frequently or take medication), you should speak to a doctor and a knowledgeable local religious scholar; you may be exempt from fasting or have alternatives like making up days later or paying fidya in some cases.
  • If you are dealing with alcohol use and find it hard to stop, many Muslims are advised to treat Ramadan as a detox and reset period , seek support groups or counseling, and gradually build healthier habits.

In short:

  • Can you drink water while fasting in Ramadan? No, not between dawn and sunset.
  • Can you drink alcohol during Ramadan, even at night? No, alcohol is considered forbidden at all times in Islam.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.