Alcohol can put a damper on your summer fun

Summer is typically a wonderful season for outdoor activities and spending extra time with family and friends. For some people, drinking alcoholic beverages is part of these activities. This summer, take steps to protect your own health and that of your loved ones.

Swimmers Can Wander Too Far into the Water

Alcohol is a major cause of water-related drowning deaths, which are particularly common during the summer months.(1,2) Alcohol impairs judgment and increases risk-taking – a dangerous combination for swimmers. Even experienced swimmers can go further into the water than they should and be unable to return to shore, or they may not notice how cold they are getting and become hypothermic. Surfers may become overconfident and attempt to ride a wave beyond their skill level. Even at a swimming pool, alcohol can have tragic consequences. Drunk divers can hit the diving board or dive into water that is too shallow.

Boaters Can Lose Control

It's important to know that the risk of a fatal accident increases from the very first drink.(4)

Additionally, alcohol can impair a boat operator's judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can also increase fatigue and heighten susceptibility to the effects of cold water immersion. If problems arise, intoxicated operators are unable to react quickly and find solutions. For passengers, drunkenness can lead to slipping on deck, falling overboard, or accidents at the dock.

Drivers Can Veer Off Course

Summer vacation is one of the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road. On vacation, drivers may be navigating an unfamiliar route or towing a boat or RV, while pets and children in the car provide distractions. When alcohol is added to this mix, it endangers the lives of the driver and everyone in the car, as well as other road users.

Travel Can Be a Trigger

Some people may drink more when on vacation, which can lead to unforeseen problems. Increased drinking can lead to a higher blood alcohol concentration and a greater risk of accidents and injuries, especially if the amount of alcohol in a drink is higher than what one is used to at home. Alcohol can also exacerbate certain health problems associated with travel, such as motion sickness and heat-related conditions. Alcohol can even interact with medications specifically prescribed for travel.

Dehydration Is a Risk

Whether you're on the road or in the great outdoors, heat combined with alcohol can cause problems. Hot summer days lead to fluid loss through perspiration, while alcohol causes fluid loss through more frequent urination. Together, they can quickly lead to dehydration or heatstroke. Dehydration can also make you feel the effects of alcohol more quickly than usual, increasing the risk of alcohol-related harm.

Protect Your Skin

Sunburn can put a damper on your summer vacation. People who drink alcohol while partying in the sun are less likely to use sunscreen.(5,6) And laboratory research indicates that alcohol reduces the amount of sun exposure needed to cause sunburn.(7) All of this is bad news, as repeated sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer. Whether you drink or not, make sure you apply plenty of sunscreen to enjoy your summer to the fullest!

Stay Safe and Healthy

 

Be smart this summer – think before you drink. Avoiding alcoholic beverages while operating a boat, driving a car, exploring nature, and swimming or surfing can also help keep you and your loved ones safe.

If you are serving alcohol at a summer gathering, be sure to:

• Offer a variety of healthy foods and snacks. Food can slow the absorption of alcohol and reduce peak alcohol levels in the body by about a third. Food can also minimize stomach irritation and gastrointestinal discomfort the next day.
• Offer various non-alcoholic beverages – water, fruit juices, sparkling soft drinks. Non-alcoholic drinks help counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Additionally, these other fluids can slow the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the body and lower the peak blood alcohol concentration. They also provide your guests with alternatives to alcohol.
• Help your guests get home safely – use designated drivers, ride-hailing services, or taxis. Anyone getting behind the wheel of a car should not have consumed alcohol.
• And if you are a parent, make sure you know the laws regarding underage drinking – and set a good example.
  
  

What Exactly Is in That Drink?

Summer cocktails can be stronger, higher in calories, and more expensive than you think. You might be watching what you eat to fit into those summer clothes, but watching what you drink can ensure your safety.

 

1 National Safety Council. National Safety Council analysis of National Center for Health Statistics mortality data, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. 2025. [cited 2025 Sept 5]. 

2 Alpert HR, Slater ME, Yoon Y, Chen CM, Winstanley N, Esser MB. Alcohol consumption and 15 causes of fatal injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2022 Aug;63(2):286–300. Epub 2022 May 15. PubMed PMID: 35581102

3 U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard. 2024 Recreational boating statistics. [cited 2025 Sept 4]. 

4 Smith GS, Keyl PM, Hadley JA, Bartley CL, Foss RD, Tolbert WG, McKnight J. Drinking and recreational boating fatalities: a population-based case-control study. JAMA. 2001 Dec;286:2974–80. [cited 2023 May 30]. PubMed PMID: 11743838

5 Rota M, Pasquali E, Bellocco R, Bagnardi V, Scotti L, Islami F, Negri E, Boffetta P, Pelucchi C, Corrao G, La Vecchia C. Alcohol drinking and cutaneous melanoma risk: a systematic review and dose–risk meta-analysis. Br J Dermatol. 2014;170(5):1021-8. PubMed PMID: 24495200

6 Mukamal KJ. Alcohol consumption and self-reported sunburn: a cross-sectional, population-based survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55(4);584-9. PubMed PMID: 17010736

7 Darvin ME, Sterry W, Lademann J, Patzelt A. Alcohol consumption decreases the protection efficiency of the antioxidant network and increases the risk of sunburn in human skin. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2012;26(1):45–51. PubMed PMID: 23147451