Effect of alcohol on body core temperature during cold-water immersion

This study investigates the influence of alcohol on body core temperature during cold-water immersion in human volunteers. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 8 healthy male volunteers were randomised to drink 1 litre of beverage containing 50 g alcohol or placebo before 20 degrees C cold-water immersion for 1 hour. Body core temperature was measured before cooling and after 1 hour of immersion with an infrared ear thermometer. After a 1-week interval subjects crossed to the other study branch. In the placebo test, mean temperature decreased after immersion by 0.66 degrees C; after the alcohol mean temperature decreased by 1.0 degrees C (mean difference 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.53, P = 0.002).