On a warm summer day, many people love to relax with a beer or glass of wine. If you’re entertaining in your back yard, oftentimes there is alcohol present and there’s nothing wrong with that. Even in winter, it’s fun to run outside and jump in the hot tub for that steamy relaxation! However, are additional risks that you should consider when you mix alcohol and a hot tub.
Here are four reasons you shouldn’t drink alcohol in your hot tub and pool:
Heat exhaustion: Look at any public hot tub and you’ll see signs and warnings advising those who are pregnant, are a young child or senior adult, have diabetes or high blood pressure, and other medical conditions, not to stay in the hot water for prolonged periods of time. This is because over-exposure can cause nausea, fainting or dizziness. Furthermore, the heat and circulation of the hot tub can accentuate the effects if you’re drinking which can cause increased drowsiness, impaired judgement and dehydration. Which leads us to the next risk associated with drinking while in the hot tub.
Extreme dehydration: Hot tubs make you sweat, sweating dehydrates you and dehydration increases the effects of alcohol. Dehydration can cause you to become light-headed, dizzy, cause nausea or increase your heart rate. It’s important to actually drink water while in the hot tub and avoid alcohol for your own personal safety.
Broken glass: Many adult beverages are bottled in glass containers and it’s extremely easy to drop one in the hot tub or the deck around it. Did you know that glass shatters when it’s cold and is quickly heated up so you run the risk of shattered glass when you have a cold bottle near a tub full of hot water? Not only is there the danger of cuts but the added work needed to completely clean the hot tub! Yes, we realize that you can drink from plastic cups or shatter-proof containers but there is one more risk……
Losing consciousness: This is quite possibly the biggest danger of drinking and spending time in the hot tub. Relaxing in a hot tub is relaxing to the body and mind and honestly, who hasn’t nearly drifted off at one time or another in a hot tub or hot bath? Add alcohol to the equation and suddenly the situation can become serious.
Most people won’t get to the point where this is a worry, but it is something to be mindful of, and to let your guests know as well.
