Alcohol consumption over summer how to stay safe

The warmer weather is finally here, and for many Australians, that also coincides with holidays and Christmas festivities. Whether you’re heading away on a road trip or staying close to home, understanding how to drink alcohol responsibly will ensure you have a happy and safe summer.

Know your limits

Alcohol affects everyone differently. The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends that healthy adults do not exceed more than 4 standard drinks on

any given day. They also recommend that adults do not drink more than 10 standard

drinks a week. People who are pregnant and children under the age of eighteen, should not drink alcohol at all.

Source: The Australian Diabetes Educator (ADE)

Drink plenty of water

Did you know that alcohol is a diuretic? This means that when you drink alcohol, your body loses fluids faster than when you drink other liquids, like water. To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of water throughout the day. An easy way to do this is to have a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks. If you find that your mouth, skin or eyes are feeling dry, make sure to increase your water intake.

Stay out of the hot sun

Alcohol can increase the risk of sunburn. This is because alcohol decreases the body’s ability to protect the skin from UV light. If you are consuming alcohol outdoors, reapply sunscreen regularly, wear a hat and socialise in the shade.

Aside from giving you a nasty case of sunburn, the sun can dehydrate you and cause heatstroke. Heat-related illnesses are made worse by alcohol consumption. Be sure to look out for signs of: > headache > nausea > dizziness > fainting > vomiting or diarrhoea

Avoid swimming and water sports

Swimming and water sports are great things to do on a hot day, but not if you’re drinking alcohol. Alcohol consumption impairs your decision-making abilities and makes it difficult to react to changing situations. Having alcohol in your system can also reduce the effectiveness of CPR.

If you’re having a few alcoholic drinks, play it safe and stay out of the water.