A hot tub and a drink may seem like a natural combination, especially when relaxing with friends or winding down at the end of the day. But alcohol and hot water can affect the body in ways that significantly increase the risk of overheating, dehydration, dizziness, fainting, poor judgment, falls and drowning.
The safest approach is simple: avoid drinking alcohol while using a hot tub.
This becomes even more important when the water temperature is high, the soak is long, or the person has a health condition or takes medications that affect blood pressure, alertness or circulation.
Why Is Alcohol More Dangerous In A Hot Tub?
Hot water causes blood vessels near the skin to widen. This helps the body release heat, but it can also lower blood pressure and make some people feel lightheaded.
Alcohol can produce some of the same effects. It may impair judgment, reduce coordination, increase dehydration and make it harder to recognize that the body is becoming overheated.
When alcohol and hot water are combined, those effects can become more pronounced.
Can Alcohol Make You Overheat Faster?
Yes. A hot tub already raises body temperature. Alcohol can make it harder to judge how hot you actually feel and may encourage someone to stay in the spa longer than they otherwise would.
Warning signs of overheating can include:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Rapid heartbeat
- Feeling unusually tired
If any of these symptoms occur, get out of the hot tub and cool down.
Alcohol Can Increase Dehydration
Hot tubs cause the body to lose fluid through sweating, even though you may not notice it while sitting in the water.
Alcohol can contribute to dehydration, which may increase:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle weakness
- Heat-related symptoms
Drinking water before and during a hot-tub session is a much safer choice.
Why Fainting Is Particularly Dangerous In A Hot Tub
One of the most serious risks is loss of consciousness.
If someone becomes dizzy or faints while sitting in a chair, the primary concern may be a fall. If the same thing happens in a hot tub, the person's face can fall below the water.
Even a brief loss of consciousness can become a drowning emergency.
This is one reason alcohol use around any body of water should be taken seriously.
Alcohol Also Affects Judgment And Coordination
Alcohol does more than affect body temperature. It can impair decision-making, balance and reaction time.
That can increase the chance of:
- Slipping while entering or exiting the spa
- Falling on wet steps or decking
- Ignoring overheating symptoms
- Staying in the spa too long
- Using the spa at an unsafe temperature
- Horseplay or unsafe behavior
- Failing to recognize when another person is in distress
Is One Drink Safe In A Hot Tub?
There is no universal number of drinks that can be considered safe for everyone while using a hot tub.
People respond differently to alcohol depending on factors such as:
- Body size
- Age
- Health conditions
- Medications
- Hydration
- Food intake
- Water temperature
- Length of the soak
Because alcohol and heat can both affect circulation and awareness, the safer choice is to enjoy alcohol after you are finished using the spa rather than while you are in it.
What About Cannabis?
Cannabis can also affect coordination, judgment, reaction time and perception.
Some people may experience dizziness, changes in heart rate, anxiety or drowsiness. Combining those effects with high water temperature may create additional risk.
The safest practice is to avoid using a hot tub while impaired by cannabis or any other substance that affects alertness, coordination or judgment.
What About Prescription Medications?
Some medications can increase the effects of hot water or alcohol.
Examples can include medications that:
- Lower blood pressure
- Cause drowsiness
- Affect heart rate
- Cause dizziness
- Increase dehydration
- Reduce alertness
If a medication includes warnings about alcohol, heat exposure, dizziness or fainting, those warnings should be taken seriously.
If you are unsure whether a medication is compatible with hot-tub use, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Older Adults May Be More Sensitive
Older adults may be more vulnerable to changes in blood pressure, dehydration and overheating.
They may also be more likely to take medications that affect circulation or balance.
For these reasons, alcohol and high-temperature hot tubs can be an especially risky combination for older users.
Hot Tub Temperature Matters
The hotter the water, the faster the body absorbs heat.
Reducing the temperature can make a hot tub more comfortable and reduce heat stress, but it does not make drinking alcohol in the spa risk-free.
For more information, see our article on Hot Tub Temperature Safety.
Do Not Use A Hot Tub Alone If You Have Been Drinking
Using a hot tub alone already removes an important layer of safety if something goes wrong.
If alcohol has been consumed, the risks of dizziness, fainting or impaired judgment make being alone even more concerning.
If someone becomes unconscious in the water, immediate assistance may be necessary.
Warning Signs That Mean You Should Get Out
Leave the hot tub immediately if you experience:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Severe headache
- Feeling faint
- Difficulty staying awake
If someone becomes unconscious, has trouble breathing, experiences chest pain or appears to be in serious distress, call 911.
Safer Hot Tub Habits
A few simple habits can reduce risk:
- Avoid alcohol while using the hot tub.
- Drink water to stay hydrated.
- Keep the water temperature within a safe range.
- Limit long soaking sessions.
- Get out if you become dizzy or unusually tired.
- Avoid using the hot tub while impaired.
- Use extra caution when taking medications that cause dizziness or drowsiness.
- Do not encourage intoxicated guests to use the spa.
What If Guests Have Been Drinking?
If you are hosting a gathering, it is reasonable to establish clear hot-tub rules before alcohol is served.
Do not allow someone who is visibly intoxicated, unsteady, extremely tired or unable to make safe decisions to enter the spa.
Keep the spa cover secured when it is not being supervised, particularly at larger gatherings where it may be difficult to monitor everyone continuously.
Alcohol And Pool Safety
The same basic concerns apply to swimming pools.
Alcohol can impair swimming ability, reaction time and judgment, increasing the risk of drowning or injury.
People who have been drinking should not be relied upon to supervise children or other swimmers.
The Bottom Line
Alcohol and hot tubs are not a good combination.
Hot water can already cause changes in body temperature and blood pressure. Alcohol may increase dehydration, impair judgment, reduce coordination and make it harder to recognize the warning signs of overheating.
The safest option is to enjoy the hot tub first and save alcoholic drinks for afterward.
For additional information about temperature, children, pregnancy, electrical hazards, water cleanliness, pets, drains and other safety topics, visit our Water Safety Knowledge Base.
If you need help identifying a safety-related replacement component for your pool or spa, visit our Find My Part page or contact Bath & Spa Parts Online.