Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will always pose a threat to your mental and physical health. But doing so in warmer weather carries some additional risks.
In warm weather, your body cells contain less fluid which means the alcohol in your body is more concentrated and therefore generates a stronger effect which makes you intoxicated earlier. But don’t be fooled, this does not mean the effects wear off earlier too - the liver takes just as long to break down the alcohol whatever the weather.
During higher temperatures, we also sweat more. And whilst drinking alcohol we urinate more, leading to a greater loss of fluids. This combination can lead to dehydration, which can cause:
• Dizziness
• Muscle cramps
• Disorientation
• Fatigue
• Impaired judgement
• Heatstroke
On drinking alcohol in general, the NHS advises the following:
“To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level, both men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week.
“A unit of alcohol is 8g or 10ml of pure alcohol, which is about:
half a pint of lower to normal-strength lager/beer/cider;
a single small shot measure of spirits; or a small glass of wine contains about 1.5 units of alcohol.”
If you do choose to consume alcohol in hot weather, make sure you’re drinking them slowly, having a glass of water at regular intervals, and be mindful that alcohol can impair your judgement - so don’t lay out in the sun for too long or swim beyond your capabilities.
