“Alcohol makes you warmer.”

Many people hold the belief that consuming alcohol can effectively warm them up in chilly conditions. This common misconception may stem from historical practices and even popular culture, such as the enduring image of St. Bernard dogs carrying casks of brandy to aid stranded travelers in snowy mountains. The immediate, comforting sensation of warmth after a drink certainly makes this belief feel true, leading individuals to think their body temperature is increasing.

However, the feeling of warmth alcohol provides is actually a physiological illusion. Alcohol acts as a vasodilator, meaning it causes blood vessels, especially those near the skin's surface, to expand. This allows a rush of warm blood from your body's core to flow outwards to your skin and extremities, creating a flushed feeling and the sensation of being warmer. While your skin may indeed feel toasty, this outward rush of blood paradoxically causes your core body temperature to drop as heat rapidly escapes into the colder environment.

This process is why the myth is not only incorrect but also dangerous. As your core temperature decreases, alcohol also impairs your judgment and suppresses your body's natural shivering response, which is crucial for generating heat in cold conditions. This combination means you are less likely to perceive the true extent of the cold and are more vulnerable to hypothermia, a potentially life-threatening condition where your body loses heat faster than it can produce it.