Why water works on holiday

Roughly 70% of your body is made up of water And if you’re lucky enough to be travelling somewhere hot you’ll need to keep those levels topped up. Make sure you slip a bottle of water into your beach bag and remember to take sips throughout the day to keep dehydration at bay. Put aside some spare change so you can buy water wherever you go.

Water can help you stay in control If you decide to drink alcohol on your holiday, drinking water as well can help you stay sharp on a night out. Try to alternate alcoholic drinks with water, or other soft drinks like coke or lemonade. Drinking water and setting yourself an alcohol limit* can help you stay sober and make it  much more likely that you'll have a good time and make it through to the sunrise with your mates.

If you choose to drink alcohol, water can help you avoid dehydration Whether you prefer sipping cocktails, drinking beer, or sampling some of the local wine – alcohol in all its forms causes dehydration. This can be a problem in hot climates, especially if your body’s craving water. The most important thing is to not go overboard on the alcohol*. But in any case, make sure you’re regularly sipping H20 between alcoholic drinks, and if you’re feeling dizzy or faint, ask your mates for help.

Water can be expensive to buy abroad at some bars, shops and restaurants To save cash you can often buy a big bottle of water at a local supermarket that’s much cheaper than the smaller bottles on sale in town. Keep it chilled in the fridge in your room and use it to fill up empty bottles for you and your mates throughout the week.

Water from the tap might not be safe to drink Unless your Club 18-30 rep has told you otherwise it’s best not to drink the tap water in your hotel, or order tap water in restaurants and bars. Steer clear of ice in drinks too. If you’re not used to the local water, it may make you ill – so stick to the bottled stuff instead.

*The recommended daily limit is no more than 4 units on any one day for men and no more than 3 units on any day for women. A shot of vodka is 1 unit. A pint of 5% lager is 3 units. A standard 175ml glass of 13% white wine is 2.3 units.

Page last updated by

Matthew Bateman, 11 May 2010.

Page checked on

29 Apr 2010