FactSentinel

Alcohol creates a sensation of warmth, but it does not actually raise body temperature or help protect against cold. When alcohol is consumed, it causes blood vessels near the skin's surface to dilate, a process known as vasodilation. This brings warm blood from the body's core to the skin, producing a flushed, heated feeling. However, this same process accelerates heat loss from the body, causing core temperature to drop more quickly than it would otherwise.

This is precisely why alcohol consumption is dangerous in cold environments. As core body heat radiates away through the skin, the body loses its ability to maintain a safe internal temperature, increasing the risk of hypothermia. Emergency medicine experts and cold-weather safety organizations consistently warn against drinking alcohol as a way to stay warm outdoors, precisely because it masks the sensation of cold while simultaneously worsening the underlying physiological problem. Alcohol also impairs judgment and shivering response, both of which are critical mechanisms the body uses to detect and respond to dangerous temperature drops.

The misconception likely persists because the warming sensation is immediate and noticeable, while the counterproductive effects on core temperature are less obvious and unfold over time. Historical practices, such as giving brandy to people rescued from cold water, have reinforced this myth, but modern medical understanding contradicts this approach. Health authorities, including the CDC and various wilderness medicine associations, advise against alcohol use in cold-weather situations, recommending warm nonalcoholic beverages, proper insulation, and shelter instead.