Cold-Weather Drinking: Experts Say Alcohol Doesn't Make You Warm

As New Year's Eve temperatures in Wisconsin see wind chill values dip to as low as 30 below zero at night, experts say that drinking alcohol won't actually warm you up — it'll make you more vulnerable to the cold.

Sure, a shot of brandy might give you a "warm" feeling in your chest, and a couple drinks might make you feel "numb" to the cold, but two studies illustrated exactly how alcohol consumption is actually doing the reverse to your body.

Researchers at the Wilderness and Environmental Medicine society learned that a person's alcohol use in cold weather can actually lower their body temperature and increase their risk of hypothermia. The study concluded that alcohol lowers a person's body temperature by making a person sweat. Alcohol was also found to dilate a person's blood vessels. As blood moves closer to the skin, it loses heat.

In another study, the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine found that alcohol reduces a person's ability to shiver. Shivering is a body's natural reflex designed to create warmth.

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If you're planning to brave the cold on New Year's Eve and have a few drinks, there are a couple things experts suggest: drinking responsibly, and wearing the appropriate cold-weather gear. A guide put together by the National Weather Service shows how to dress for extreme cold: three layers of clothing, a warm hat, a face covering, a wind-blocking outer shell, and warm boots are a great start.

Image Via Pixabay/ Bespirituosas / 7 images

Graphic Via NOAA