FC-0033 · Tobacco & alcohol21 Oct 2026
Claim
Drinking rum or other alcohol in winter keeps the body warm.
VerdictMisleading
Can be harmful
Checked against ouh.nhs.uk, CDC
Drinking rum or any other alcohol in winter gives only a feeling of warmth. It sends blood to the skin, away from the body's core, so your inside temperature drops and the risk of hypothermia goes up. Following this advice can hurt you: you feel warm while your body is actually losing heat, so you may not notice you are getting dangerously cold.
What experts say
- Alcohol gives you a feeling of warmth, but it does not warm your body from inside.1
- Alcohol sends blood to the skin and away from the body's core, so your inside temperature goes down.12
- Drinking alcohol in the cold makes the body lose heat faster and raises the risk of hypothermia, which means body temperature falling to a dangerous level.123
- Never give alcohol to someone who is very cold. A warm, sweet drink or broth can help, but only if the person is awake.234
Why people believe it
Alcohol makes the face and skin feel hot within minutes, so it seems to warm the body. That warm feeling is blood moving to the skin, while the inside of the body is getting colder.
What to do
- Wear several loose layers, a hat, a scarf or mask over your face and mouth, mittens, and a water-resistant coat and boots.23
- Stay dry. Wet clothes make the body lose heat fast.2
- To feel warmer, have a warm, sweet drink or soup instead of alcohol.2
- If someone is very cold, move them to a warm place, take off wet clothes, wrap them in a warm blanket and get medical help.34
See a doctor if
- Shivering that does not stop, or shivering that suddenly stops.24
- Feeling very tired, confused or drowsy, fumbling hands, memory loss or slurred speech.23
- In babies: bright red, cold skin and very low energy.23
- Blue skin, slow pulse and breathing, or fainting.4
- Numbness, tingling or white, waxy skin on the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes.4
Sources
- 1Alcohol awareness and harm reductionouh.nhs.uk
- 2Safety Guidelines: During & After a Winter Stormcdc.gov
- 3Preventing Hypothermiacdc.gov
- 4Cold-related Illnesses in Workerscdc.gov
Updated 21 Oct 2026
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