Did alcohol get the best of you last night? Realizing you sent out some inappropriate messages can be unsettling, but don’t worry—recovering from this is usually simple. By taking accountability and addressing any errors, the recipient will likely find it amusing. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to handle the situation smoothly. Grab a cup of coffee and read on as you recover from that hangover.
Steps to Follow
Offer a sincere apology for the message.

If you messed up, let them know you regret it. If you overstepped, said something offensive, or disturbed someone late at night, own up to it. Send a genuine apology for your intoxicated text. Include as much detail as you think is necessary. For example:
- "Hey, I apologize for those texts. Clearly, you’ve been on my mind, but I realize now that wasn’t the right way to reach out. I hope you’re doing well, and I appreciate your understanding."
- “I’m really sorry about my drunk texts last night. Tequila and I are officially done.”
- “I feel terrible about messaging you last night while I was drunk. I didn’t mean to disrespect you; you mean a lot to me, and I messed up. I’m truly sorry.”
- “I’m sorry about last night. I can’t even recall what I was trying to say, and I apologize if I disturbed you.”
Lighten the mood with humor.

If you want to downplay your actions, make a joke about yourself. If you did something regrettable and want to move past it, pretending it didn’t happen isn’t the best approach. Instead, frame your texts as something amusing. This doesn’t mean lying about your intentions, but a touch of humor can help you recover gracefully. Consider sending:
- “Last night, drunk me thought texting was a great idea. This morning, sober me is horrified 😭”
- “Yikes. I just checked my phone and realized I texted half the world last night 😂”
- “Who has two thumbs and a phone full of embarrassing drunk texts? Me!”
Request confidentiality if you shared something private.

If you accidentally revealed something you shouldn’t have, ask them to keep it to themselves. Did you text a coworker about disliking your boss? Or confess a crush to a friend? If so, address it quickly before they spread the news. You might say:
- “I was way out of line last night. I didn’t mean what I said—I was completely out of it. Please don’t tell anyone.”
- “I’ll treat you to dinner if you promise to delete those texts and act like it never happened. Deal?”
- “I know I overstepped last night, and I’m really embarrassed. I’d be grateful if you kept it between us.”
Own up to your feelings if you confessed to a crush.

If you messaged your crush and they responded positively, be honest about your feelings! While it might not be the most traditional way to start a romance, admitting your crush while tipsy can work in your favor. If the person you like seemed receptive to your drunk confession, consider being straightforward about your emotions. You might say:
- “Okay, I know that wasn’t the smoothest move, but I genuinely like you.”
- “I’m just going to say it—I like you. That wasn’t just the alcohol talking. Sorry if this isn’t the best way to tell you.”
- If they didn’t seem interested in your drunk messages, it’s probably best not to push the issue further.
Think about embracing it.

Pretending it’s no big deal might be the best approach. Almost everyone sends a drunk text at some point, and if you didn’t say anything too outrageous, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. You can treat it as a fun story from a wild night and move on. This works well if you texted a friend or crush who’s familiar with your antics. You could say:
- “Clearly, I was on another level last night. I barely remember anything, but it must have been a blast.”
- “Note to self: never take shots with Maggie again. She outdid me, and I clearly couldn’t handle it.”
- “I’m scrolling through my phone trying to figure out what went down last night. Any idea? It was insane…”
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
What’s your go-to strategy for recovering from a drunk text?
138 total votes
This feature is on its way! Thank you for your enthusiasm.
Thank you for participating in our poll!
Start QuizExplore More QuizzesBlame it on your friend borrowing your phone.

If you’re too mortified to admit it, a small fib might help you out. While honesty is usually the best policy, if you said something particularly troubling or feel deeply embarrassed, a harmless lie could be your best bet. Just ensure your texts didn’t include details only you’d know—it’s tough to pin it on someone else if it’s clearly your words. You might say:
- “Apologies for last night. Avery grabbed my phone as a ‘prank,’ and I didn’t realize the chaos they caused until this morning.”
- “Ugh, I lost my phone in an Uber last night. Someone clearly had a field day with it. Thankfully, I got it back today. Sorry for the bizarre messages.”
Brush it off and keep going.

If your messages weren’t too extreme, this doesn’t have to be a huge issue. Unless you confessed your undying love or spilled a major secret, a quick apology and moving on is perfectly fine. Don’t overcomplicate it. This works especially well if they haven’t responded and your original text was something casual like “hey” or “u up?”
Don’t overthink it.

There’s no need to dwell on this or feel guilty. You didn’t do anything malicious—just made a silly mistake, and that’s all it was. The recipient has likely been on the receiving end of drunk texts before, so they won’t think less of you. Hydrate, recover, and move forward.
- Take this as a learning moment. Avoid drinking and texting! You can prevent future mishaps by handing your phone to a friend before drinking or using an app that locks your phone for set periods.
- Another option is to remove certain contacts temporarily and store their info elsewhere, making it harder to text them impulsively.
Keep yourself occupied while waiting.

Sending multiple texts before they respond won’t speed up the recovery process. Distract yourself by watching TV, playing a game, or taking a walk without your phone. Staying busy will help you stop dwelling on last night.
Remove the texts if they make you uncomfortable.

If you can’t see them, they’ll stop bothering you. If the messages are weighing on you, there’s no need to keep them. Delete them, take a deep breath, and let go of the stress.
- This will pass—even if it feels overwhelming now, everyone (including you) will move on soon.
- Reader Poll: We asked 773 Mytour readers what they’d do if their partner was cheating over text, and only 6% said they’d forgive them and try to work through it. [Take Poll] So, if your partner sent a flirty drunk text, delete it and move forward.
-
After drunk texting, the best approach is to take responsibility and demonstrate growth. The worst thing you can do is lie or try to cover up what happened.
