diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index 1f488fa..5bb67a4 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ DB_USER=root
 DB_PASS=root
 DB_HOST=db # If using docker compose, this should match the container service name
 DB_PORT=5432
+DB_FORCE_SYNC=false # Whether or not to DROP all tables and recreate to match the current models
 ALLOW_REGISTRATION=true
 HTTP_INTERFACE=0.0.0.0
 HTTP_PORT=3000
diff --git a/models/index.model.js b/models/index.model.js
index 1a0e8f0..7360904 100644
--- a/models/index.model.js
+++ b/models/index.model.js
@@ -37,8 +37,14 @@ for (const modelDefiner of modelDefiners) {
   modelDefiner(sequelize);
 }
 
-// Create tables if they don't exist
-// Update columns to match if the table already exists
-sequelize.sync({ alter: true });
+/**
+ * Synchronise the database (create new tables) to match the models defined
+ * above.
+ *
+ * WARNING: If force is set, sequelize will delete columns and create new ones
+ *          if their types have changed!
+ *          Use sequelize-cli and migrations instead!
+ */
+sequelize.sync({ force: process.env.DB_FORCE_SYNC });
 
 export default sequelize;