SUNSHINE and a cold beer go hand in hand. But are you sure just how much you're drinking and what effect alcohol and heat can have?
Summertime has its own set of drinking venues and rituals – pub beer gardens, barbeques, the beach and sporting events such as Wimbledon.
But summer drinking brings with it additional risks such as dehydration and, if you're on holiday, being und
er the influence in an unfamiliar place.
When the weather is warm, it's important to keep track of how much alcohol you drink.
DehydrationAccording to the Met Office, 2008 is set to be one of the top 10 warmest years on record. During a hot spell people who drink alcohol are at greater risk as this makes dehydration worse. When the weather gets very hot, you should avoid drinking alcohol and drink plenty of other fluids.
Top tipsIf you are drinking alcohol when the weather is hot, here are some top tips for staying hydrated:
alternate between alcoholic and soft drinks.
if outside, find some shade – don't sit directly in the sun as you'll lose more fluids through sweating.
avoiding alcohol during the hottest part of the day will lessen your chances of becoming dehydrated.
if you're drinking spirits, make sure you maximise the mixer.
On holidayParticularly if you're going out in an unfamiliar town, you need to plan ahead for getting back to your hotel or accommodation. In the UK, even though it stays lighter longer in the summer, on the longest day sunset is at about 9:20pm, so it will still be dark leaving a pub or club later.
You need to plan how you get back and make sure you're not left to walk home alone. One in three reported rapes happen when the victim has been drinking.
Top tips on holidayIf abroad, the beer may be stronger than you are used to at home making you liable to get drunker quicker.
Free-pour measures mean you're never sure quite how much alcohol you're drinking. A couple of drinks abroad may be the equivalent of four or five at home.
While you may not set out to drink more than one or two drinks, the excitement of being on holiday can lead you to drink more. Set yourself a "booze budget" for the evening and stick to it.
If you're playing sport, remember that alcohol affects your co-ordination. Mix sport and alcohol and you could end up injured.
Many insurance companies won't cover you if you have an accident after drinking excessively.
SunburnResearch from the US suggests there is a link between heavy drinking and sunburn, which can lead to skin cancer.
It found a link between people who consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and those who got sunburned.
The implication is that people who drink heavily either forget or disregard the health risks of sunburn or may fall asleep in the sun as a result of their excessive drinking.
Booze basics Women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day.
Men should not drink more than three to four units a day.
A unit is equal to 10ml of pure alcohol.
After heavy drinking, you should have a 48-hour break without alcohol to allow time for your body tissues to recover.
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