diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 008b50f..1a09e0c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,4 +57,7 @@ DB.open "mysql://root@localhost/test" do |db|
     end
   end
 end
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+```
+#### Time Zone
+To change the time zone that this library uses (defaults to UTC), set a DB_TIME_ZONE env var to the desired location.  
+Example: `DB_TIME_ZONE="Europe/Berlin"`
diff --git a/src/mysql.cr b/src/mysql.cr
index ceaff6b..41de6d9 100644
--- a/src/mysql.cr
+++ b/src/mysql.cr
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ module MySql
 
   alias Any = DB::Any | Int16 | Int8 | Time::Span
 
+  def self.time_zone
+    ENV.has_key?("DB_TIME_ZONE") ? Time::Location.load(ENV["DB_TIME_ZONE"]) : Time::Location::UTC
+  end
+
   # :nodoc:
-  TIME_ZONE = Time::Location::UTC
+  TIME_ZONE = MySql.time_zone
 end