As the cold of winter comes, more and more people drink alcohol to feel warm and cosy. A glass of rum or whiskey is like a nice retreat. Nevertheless, the question remains: does the alcohol really warm you up? One thing is for sure: it does not. What it actually does is produce the illusion of warmth in the body and, at the same time, decrease your internal temperature.
The consumption of alcohol expands the blood vessels near your skin, which lets an additional amount of blood flow to the surface. As a result, one can feel a sense of warmth on his or her skin. Nevertheless, the heat is deceptive. The blood flow out of the body decreases the heat source to the crucial organs such as the heart. And so the core will cool down instead. In extreme cold, this can cause hypothermia and death.
Alcohol can also dull your perception of the cold. This false sense of security makes you feel less chilly than you actually are. At the same time, alcohol reduces natural responses designed to keep you warm, like shivering. This double impact means alcohol doesn’t help you fight the cold—it does the opposite.
The phrase “rum jacket” or “brandy jacket” reflects how people rely on alcohol to combat winter’s bite. Unfortunately, this approach may put them at greater risk, particularly in harsh weather. Medical experts warn that relying on alcohol for warmth is dangerous, especially when combined with risky behaviours it might encourage.
Alcohol clouds judgment and winds up in decisions that we would certainly not have made in the right senses. For instance, a person might be thought to set foot on the street in sheer bareness after a few drams. In the case of weather as harsh as frostbite or hypothermia, a quick body temperature drop can come about with such an action.
However risky the situation can be, the myth gets around through the fact that alcohol can create a state of euphoria. Drinking can give a person a sense of being relaxed and happy, which is a kind of means of escaping temporarily from the discomfort brought by low temperatures. The positive feelings, however, don’t act as an armour against the cold.
The cultural symbolism of alcohol with warmth binds populaces around the globe together. Hot toddies, mulled wine, and spiced rum are the go-to drinks for a tight grip in winter. While they might be soothing to have a few sips of, the warmth these drinks provide is due to the temperature of the drink and not the alcohol.
Experts recommend wearing proper winter clothing and consuming warm, non-alcoholic beverages to stay safe in cold weather. Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate can warm you up without compromising your body’s ability to regulate heat. Eating foods rich in healthy fats and proteins can also help your body generate heat naturally.
The misconception that alcohol keeps you warm can have serious consequences in extreme cold. In fact, alcohol-induced hypothermia is a documented risk in winter environments. It’s essential to prioritize your health and avoid relying on alcohol as a shield against the cold.
In conclusion, while a peg of rum might lift your spirits, it won’t keep you warm. The warmth you feel is a temporary illusion that could even endanger you in cold weather. To truly combat the chill, stick to jackets, warm drinks, and healthy meals. When it comes to staying warm, science trumps myth every time.
