It’s a hassle to wear my
winter jacket. Is a good
“booze blanket” enough
to keep me warm?
Fact: Alcohol actually lowers body temperature.
The “booze blanket” effect is a deception, and
here’s why. Alcohol is a vasodilator, shifting large
volumes of blood toward the surface of your skin causing
that warm feeling. When circulation increases near the
boarders of your body, blood near the vital organs is
lessened, lowering your core body temperature. As little
as one standard drink can start reducing core body
temperatures.
Dangers of the Booze Blanket Myth
Alcohol may give you that warm feeling of wearing a
booze blanket but cold environments rapidly cool blood
flowing near the surface of your skin, dropping core body
temperatures even lower.
What’s more, a study by the Army Research Institute of
Environmental Medicine found alcohol reduces the body’s
ability to shiver, a natural defense mechanism to keep
warm. Alcohol mixed with cold Minnesota weather can be
a lethal combination as impaired judgement along with the
lack of shivering may dull our perception to dangerous
temperatures, vastly increasing the risk of hypothermia.
Hammered or Hypothermia?
To add another twist to this equation, signs of mild
hypothermia can mimic signs of intoxication, making it
ever more difficult to recognize.
Signs and symptoms of mild hypothermia include:
shivering, dizziness, nausea, lack of coordination, trouble
speaking, fatigue, hunger, and more.
Moderate or severe hypothermia include: lack of shivering,
clumsiness and lack of coordination, slurred speech,
confusion, drowsiness, lack of concern about one’s
condition, slow shallow breathing and weak pulse.
Be Aware, Be Safe!
These signs begin gradually so hypothermia often goes
unrecognized, especially when combined with alcohol. A
few tips from the health educators: Make plans in advance
for a warm, sober ride home. Have a back-up plan in case
you get separated from the group or the ride falls through.
Dress for the weather, always eat before drinking and stay
in your sweet spot (BAC .02—.06). Happy Fall, y’all!
Over half of your fellow Mavericks reported
maintaining a BAC less than >0.08 the last
time they partied. (NCHA, 2016)
One-third of Mavericks determine in advance
(2016)