Drinking alcohol in cold weather

The cold weather is definitely setting in again, but that doesn’t mean social lives have ground to a halt. However, if your destination is the pub or a club and you’re drinking alcohol, it’s important that you take extra care in the cold.

Alcohol and warmth: the big misconception

Alcohol can make you think that you’re warm. But the balmy glow and red cheeks that come with a drink are deceptive.

“When you drink, it dilates the peripheral blood vessels near your skin, which means more blood – and heat – flows to these vessels,” says Professor Colin Drummond, head of the Section of Alcohol Research at King’s College London. “That takes blood and heat away from the core of your body. So while it feels like you’re warm because your skin is warm, your vital organs aren’t as warm as you might think they are.

“If you then go out in the cold after drinking, because you’ve got a lot of heat on the periphery of your body, you can lose heat very easily and quickly. And that can be dangerous.”

The dangers

When you’ve been drinking heavily and then venture out into arctic conditions, the faulty internal thermometer – coupled with the confusion and bravado – that alcohol creates can spell trouble.

“Drinking too much leads to bad decisions,” says Prof Drummond. “If you drunkenly decide to walk home across a snowy field instead of getting a taxi, you’re putting yourself at risk. Hypothermia can take hold quickly and can even lead to death.”

Professor Malcolm Woollard is the chair of the British Paramedic Association. He says: “A huge proportion of emergency calls that our paramedics deal with are to do with alcohol. Sometimes – and especially when temperatures are low – we do treat people who have drank too much, perhaps missed the last bus home, passed out outside and ended up with hypothermia.”

He continues: “Then, of course, there are the people we treat that have been drinking and then slipped on ice or snow and hurt themselves. Alcohol and cold temperatures are a lethal combination.”

Scott Lennon, 22, knows the dangers of drinking in the cold all too well. Last Christmas, following a drunken work night out, he found himself thrown out of his taxi after telling the driver he was about to be sick. “I was about a mile from home and on a fairly quiet road,” he says. “I can’t remember much, but I must have stumbled towards home and then decided to have a rest and passed out on the pavement. I was incredibly lucky that a neighbour saw me, woke me up and took me home. I think I was in the early stages of hypothermia because once I’d warmed up a bit I really started to shake. My family were so upset to see me like that.”

Don’t want to run the risk of ending up like Scott when you’re out in winter weather? It isn’t difficult to make sure you stay safe. Staying within the government's daily unit guidelines (that women should not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily and that men should not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily) will go a long way to avoiding cold-related dangers. Knowing how you’re getting home and sticking with friends will help, as will following our tips for stylish yet warm clothing below...

Staying warm, looking good

Picture the scene: you’ve just been invited to a great party. So you’ve splashed out on a new dress or a smart shirt to wear. But then the big night arrives and it’s freezing cold. Ice everywhere. You don’t want to cover up your amazing new outfit with your boring old coat. So how do you keep warm?

Wenda James-Rowe, head stylist at The Style Team an image consultancy based in Cardiff, has some great advice for women and men looking for stylish ways to cover up in the cold:

“For women, there are a lot of great coats out there. Colourful coats are in fashion at the moment, and they can really make an outfit special. Or if you don’t want to carry about anything too heavy, a mac is a good option. Layering is another great way to stay warm outside but cool inside. You could wear a cardigan or bolero jacket, then take a wrap and coat with you as well.

It’s the same for men really. Layering has been a huge trend in men’s fashion over the past couple of years, and it’s a great way to keep warm. So many men are wearing scarves now too – look at Jude Law, Brad Pitt and Russell Brand.”

Page last updated by

Unknown, 10 May 2012.

Page checked on

24 Feb 2010