Hopefully those lovely hot days of summer are just around the corner, even if they do turn out to be just one or two days.  Once the warmer days arrive it is a pleasure to sit in pub garden with friends and family and have a drink, or push the boat out and have a barbecue for family and friends.  For some it seems easier to over-indulge in alcohol when the weather is hot.  There is no doubt that for some nothing is more refreshing when hot and bothered than an ice-cold beer or cider.  But do you get drunker, more quickly when you are hot?

There are a number of factors that could contribute to that feeling.  One could be dehydration.  When hot you will sweat which will increase your levels of dehydration.  Alcohol itself acts as a diuretic so your level of dehydration will increase.  This in turn will mean that the alcohol level in the blood will increase which will make you feel more drunk.  Another factor is the time at which you drink.  In warm summer weather you are more inclined to drink alcohol in the daytime, which you may not be used to, causing increased levels of drowsiness.  Then of course there is the sheer volume of alcohol you may be consuming.  Family and friends outings to pubs or barbecues are likely to go on for a number of hours and although you may not be drinking faster than your usual rate you will be consuming more alcohol because of the length of time you’re drinking.  Finally hot sunshine directly on the head will increase the temperature of the brain and fluid surrounding it.  This can give feelings of drowsiness and confusion not dissimilar to being drunk.