Think Twice Before Drinking Alcohol in the Summer Heat

An ice-cold drink by the pool or lake sounds like the perfect way to spend a hot summer afternoon. While it might be tempting to reach for a beer or hard seltzer, alcohol isn't the best choice for beating the heat. In fact, it can actually make you feel worse.

Let's explore the science behind how alcohol affects your body differently in hot weather, the risks of summer drinking, and how to stay safe while enjoying sunny days.

Does Heat Change How Alcohol Affects You?

Yes, absolutely! Heat significantly alters how your body processes alcohol. Your body strives to maintain stable internal conditions (homeostasis), and when it's battling both heat and alcohol simultaneously, it can become overwhelmed.

Here's how alcohol and heat work together against your body:

• Vasodilation: Your body naturally cools itself by expanding blood vessels near the skin to release heat. Alcohol also causes blood vessels to expand, which can lead to blood pressure issues and trouble regulating body temperature.
• Body Temperature Control: Alcohol interferes with your body's ability to properly expand and contract blood vessels for temperature regulation. While alcohol might make your skin feel warm (as blood rushes to the surface), your internal temperature actually drops. This can lead to hypothermia even at temperatures as mild as 70°F (21°C).
• Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalance: Alcohol acts as a diuretic, flushing fluids from your system. Combined with sweating (your body's natural cooling mechanism), this dramatically increases fluid loss. The resulting dehydration and electrolyte imbalance raise your risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Sunburn Sensitivity: Alcohol increases sunburn risk not just through poor decisions (like forgetting sunscreen), but by reducing antioxidant levels in your skin that normally protect against UV damage. Research shows that drinking in direct sunlight leads to sunburn occurring sooner or with less UV exposure.

Does Alcohol Itself Go Bad in Heat?

While heat affects how alcohol impacts your body, what about alcohol left in hot conditions?

The answer is straightforward: Heat and direct sunlight can degrade alcohol's quality but don't make it unsafe to drink. High temperatures can evaporate alcohol and affect the flavor of beverages like wine or beer (creating "skunky" flavors), but the safety profile remains the same as properly stored alcohol.

Risks of Drinking in Hot Weather

Understanding how your body responds to alcohol in heat highlights several important risks:

• Dehydration: Your body loses fluids through both sweating and alcohol's diuretic effect. This double whammy can lead to dangerous dehydration quickly. Watch for signs like thirst, infrequent urination, dry skin, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and rapid breathing.
• Heat Illness: Alcohol impairs your body's temperature regulation, making you vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. These progress from muscle cramps (phase one) to heat exhaustion with symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and nausea (phase two), to potentially deadly heat stroke with confusion, pounding heart, or even coma (phase three).
• Sunburn: With reduced natural UV protection from alcohol and potential lapses in sun safety habits, you can burn more easily. Severe sunburn (sun poisoning) may require medical treatment.
• Accidents: Alcohol impairs planning, reasoning, and coordination. This is especially dangerous around water—nearly one-third of boating fatalities involve alcohol. Swimming while intoxicated and operating any vehicle (including boats) while drinking are serious risks.

Staying Safe While Enjoying Summer

You can still enjoy summer activities while being smart about alcohol consumption:

• Hydrate: Drink 8 ounces of water for every alcoholic beverage
• Plan Transportation: Arrange for a sober driver or taxi service
• Moderate Intake: Drink slowly and in moderation
• Eat Well: Have meals and snacks with healthy fats and protein to slow alcohol absorption
• Sun Protection: Wear sunscreen and protective clothing, reapplying frequently
• Listen to Your Body: Rest, seek shade, or go indoors if you feel overheated
• Non-Alcoholic Options: Try refreshing mocktails or other alcohol-free drinks
• Time Management: Avoid extended outdoor time during peak sun hours (12-4 PM)

Key Takeaways

Alcohol affects you more strongly in hot weather, increasing susceptibility to sunburn, dehydration, and overheating. For a safe summer, drink in moderation, have transportation plans, wear sunscreen, and stay hydrated. Consider using Quitemate to help manage your drinking habits during summer gatherings.