Drinkaware has provided advice for drinking in warm conditions ahead of increasing temperatures. Met Eireann has said Friday and Saturday will be hot and sunny with highest temperatures of 25 to 28 or 29 degrees.
The advice issued urges against drinking during hot weather altogether but released tips to stay safe should you decide to do so.
Drink plenty of water
Alcohol causes you to go to the toilet more often than usual while also causing you to sweat more. This leads to dehydration unless you replace lost fluids by drinking more water to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Read More: Update to exact date Ireland's heatwave will end as thunderstorms lash country after 30C highs
Avoid swimming
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of drowning. The organization urged the public to avoid entering the water if any alcohol has been consumed.
“Alcohol can lower your inhibitions, impair your judgement and make you more likely to take risks. Alcohol slows down your reactions, making it more difficult to get yourself out of trouble. It also numbs the senses, particularly sight, sound and touch, making swimming difficult,” they said.
Don’t drink and drive
“Even small amounts of alcohol can affect your ability to drive,” according to Drinkaware.
It can take roughly one hour for the body to process one standard drink.
Drinkaware has urged drinkers to be cautious in the mornings also, saying that sleep does not mean you are no longer affected by the drinks from the night before.
“A cup of coffee or cold shower may help you feel more awake but will not help to eliminate the alcohol from your body. The only thing that will sober you up is time,” they said.
This comes as Drinkaware Ireland reported a 104% spike in traffic to their drink driving webpage during the August bank holiday weekend.
They also reported a 39% increase in the use of their drinks calculator tool.
There have been 99 deaths on Irish roads to date this year compared to 75 in the same period last year.
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