No — you should not drink alcohol while you're taking tramadol; US drug labeling tells patients not to drink at all during treatment because combining the two can slow your breathing enough to cause an overdose.
Tramadol is a prescription opioid painkiller that depresses the central nervous system, and alcohol does the same thing, so stacking them adds up — and the danger isn't just extra drowsiness, it's that your breathing can slow or stop. The US FDA-approved Medication Guide (via DailyMed) and MedlinePlus (the NIH/National Library of Medicine patient resource) both draw a hard line here, not a "just be careful" one: they instruct patients not to drink any alcohol during tramadol treatment, and the FDA guide warns that using alcohol-containing products "may cause you to overdose and die." MedlinePlus notes the breathing-problem risk is highest in the first 24 to 72 hours of treatment and any time your dose is increased. So while many drug-pairing questions land on "use caution," this one lands on avoid per the actual US labeling. (The UK's NHS is phrased more softly — "try to not have any alcohol during the first few days" — but its bottom line is still that mixing the two makes serious side effects more likely.) Note that "alcohol" here also includes prescription and over-the-counter products that contain alcohol, such as some liquid cough and cold medicines.
Warning signs of a dangerous reaction (per MedlinePlus and the FDA guide): unusual dizziness or lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness or being hard to wake, very slow, shallow or difficult breathing, long pauses between breaths, or unresponsiveness — these are emergencies, so call 911 or seek emergency care immediately. On timing, US labeling does not give a "wait X hours" window; it says don't drink during your treatment at all, so there is no safe number of hours to quote. If your prescriber has cleared you for occasional alcohol, ask them for the exact rule for your situation rather than guessing. Be most strict if you have a history of heavy drinking or alcohol addiction, breathing problems (asthma, COPD, sleep apnea), a head injury, liver or kidney problems, or if you take other sedatives (benzodiazepines, sleep aids, other opioids) — all of which raise the overdose risk further. Call a clinician before you drink at all on tramadol, and right away if you've already combined them and feel very sleepy, confused, or short of breath.
This is general reference, not medical advice, and not a guarantee of safety. Interactions depend on your doses, health conditions, and other medicines. Always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining products, and follow the dosing on each label.