Why is alcohol dangerous in a heatwave, and should I cut it out completely?

Those partial to a pint may be relieved to know a modest of amount of weak beer may actually be beneficial As Europe endures a record-breaking heatwave, countries are taking steps to keep people safe and prevent health services from becoming overstretched. Parisians face a temporary ban on drinking alcohol in public to reduce the pressure on the hospitals after a four-fold rise in cardiac arrests in a 24-hour period. We look at why drinking alcohol can be dangerous in a heatwave. A cold beer in the sun need not be a problem, but strong drinks and large volumes can be dangerous. Alcohol is a diuretic, and estimates suggest every 1ml of alcohol stimulates the body to produce about 10ml of urine. If you have a 25ml nip of 40% whisky, that amounts to 10ml of alcohol and 15ml of water. The 10ml of alcohol will cause you to produce 100ml of urine, leading to a net water loss of 85ml. There’s a smaller effect with beer. A pint (568ml) of 5% beer contains about 28ml of alcohol, which stimulates about 280ml of urine, but the body gains about 260ml of water. “You’re better off with that pint of beer, you are more hydrated than you would be if you didn’t drink it,” said Prof Ron Maughan, an h

Jun 26, 2026 → Jun 27, 2026