Drinking Beer Underwater: Is It Possible?

Drinking and diving don't mix, and it is dangerous to drink alcohol before or between dives. Alcohol impairs judgement and delays reaction times, and can remain in the bloodstream for up to eight hours after consumption. However, it is technically possible to drink underwater, and some people have even consumed beer underwater. One method involves using a straw to drink from a juice pouch.

Drinking underwater is possible but not recommended

It is technically possible to drink underwater, but it is not recommended. While it may be tempting to celebrate a dive with a drink, the potential consequences of drinking before or after diving are serious. Sobriety is a small price to pay for safety.

Drinking alcohol before or after diving can impair your judgment and delay your reaction times, which can be dangerous in an emergency situation. Alcohol can also affect your body's ability to regulate temperature, making you more susceptible to hypothermia. Additionally, alcohol can increase your risk of decompression sickness (DCS) by impacting the absorption and elimination of nitrogen in your body. Even drinking the night before diving could lead to dehydration underwater, which can also increase your risk of DCS.

If you do choose to drink alcohol while diving, it is important to follow safety guidelines. Avoid drinking to excess, and make sure to hydrate before getting in the water, even if you feel fine. If you don't feel your best, physically or mentally, it is best to postpone your dives until the next day.

There are also techniques for drinking underwater that can help you avoid inhaling water. For example, you can use a straw or a "camelback" to drink, or hold a bottle upside down and let a little air into it while drinking. However, it is important to note that drinking underwater requires you to hold your breath, which breaks a basic rule of diving.

You can drink from a straw or a camelback

If you want to drink underwater, you'll need to find a way to drink from a container without letting the surrounding water back in. One way to do this is by using a straw. You can drink from a hard bottle underwater through a straw, but you'll need to be careful not to let the surrounding water get in and mix with your drink. This method works well with pre-packaged juice pouches like Capri Sun, as the soft foil pouch is ideal for drinking from underwater. You can gently squeeze the pouch to help suck out the drink through the straw, and the pouch won't return to its original shape, reducing the amount of surrounding water that gets in.

Another option is to use a CamelBak or similar flexible drinking water bag with a tube. These bags are designed for drinking purposes while underwater and can carry large volumes of liquid. They are lightweight, durable, and come with sturdy attachment rigs. The only downside is that you'll need to remove your regulator while drinking from them.

If you want to drink from a bottle underwater, it's best to practice in a pool first. You'll need to control your airway and hold your breath while you drink, which can be challenging. Make sure the bottle has a "sport" top or a squeeze bottle top, and be careful to replace the top before removing the bottle from your mouth to prevent seawater from getting in.

Alcohol impairs judgement and delays reaction times

Research has shown that alcohol plays a large role in violence and aggression. Alcohol disrupts normal brain functioning, leading to an increased likelihood of engaging in violent or aggressive behaviours. This impaired judgement can also lead to risky sexual behaviour and other negative outcomes for one's health and social standing.

The effects of alcohol on driving skills are far-reaching and can have devastating consequences. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a grave concern that affects countless individuals worldwide. It is important to understand the impact of alcohol on driving to ensure road safety and promote responsible vehicle use.

The consumption of alcohol also has specific consequences for divers. Alcohol is a peripheral vasodilator, meaning it causes blood vessels in the skin to open up more than normal. This momentary sensation is misleading because it masks a more sinister effect. The blood flow responsible for that “warm and fuzzy” feeling is diverted from the body's core, sapping heat from a vital area and making divers more prone to hypothermia.

Additionally, alcohol impedes the production of glucose, which is one of the body's primary fuels. This reduces a diver's exercise ability, making them incapable of making the extra effort required to keep an unexpected situation from turning into an emergency. Alcohol also increases the likelihood of vomiting, which can easily lead to asphyxiation when diving.

In conclusion, alcohol impairs judgement and delays reaction times, which can have severe and even fatal consequences in various situations, including driving and diving. It is important to understand the effects of alcohol and make informed decisions to ensure the safety of oneself and others.

Alcohol increases the risk of hypothermia

Drinking alcohol is a dominant cause of death in cases of hypothermia. While alcohol gives a pleasant feeling of warmth, it is widely believed that it causes a decrease in body core temperature and increases the risk of hypothermia during cold exposure. This is because alcohol is a peripheral vasodilator, meaning that it causes blood vessels in the skin to open up more than normal. The blood flow responsible for the warm and fuzzy feeling is diverted from the body's core, sapping heat from a vital area and making the body more prone to hypothermia.

The loss of blood from the core of the body also leads to a reduction in physical working capacity. Additionally, alcohol delays the onset of shivering and reduces its duration, further impairing the body's ability to regulate its temperature. The effects of alcohol are particularly dangerous when combined with strenuous exercise or exposure to cold environments, as this can lead to enhanced heat loss.

The risk of hypothermia is further exacerbated by the fact that alcohol impairs judgement, leading to the ignorance of prophylactic measures. Alcohol also increases the likelihood of vomiting, which can easily lead to asphyxiation, especially when diving or engaging in other water-based activities.

Furthermore, alcohol consumption impedes the production of glucose in the liver, reducing the body's exercise ability. This means that an individual who has been drinking may be incapable of making the extra effort required to keep an unexpected situation, such as falling into cold water, from turning into an emergency.

Therefore, it is essential to avoid alcohol consumption when participating in activities that involve exposure to cold environments or water, as it significantly increases the risk of hypothermia and other dangerous consequences.

Alcohol may increase the risk of decompression sickness

Although there is no direct evidence of a link between alcohol consumption and decompression sickness, it is theoretically possible. Decompression sickness is a type of injury that occurs when there is a rapid decrease in pressure surrounding the body, usually when deep-sea divers ascend to the surface too quickly. It is a dangerous condition that can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Theoretically, alcohol consumption could increase the risk of decompression sickness by increasing peripheral circulation. This increased blood flow could lead to greater nitrogen absorption than predicted, even if you are within the no-decompression limits. As a result, you may be more susceptible to decompression sickness. Alcohol's diuretic properties can also contribute to dehydration, which can further alter nitrogen absorption and elimination. Dehydration puts divers at risk of the most severe form of decompression sickness, known as "Type II" bends, which affects the nervous system.

Additionally, alcohol's ability to reduce surface tension may directly contribute to DCS bubble formation. Surface tension is important in resisting bubble growth in decompression sickness. By reducing surface tension, alcohol may encourage the growth of bubbles that could otherwise remain too small to cause symptoms.

While the relationship between alcohol consumption and decompression sickness is speculative, it is based on sound physiological principles. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid alcohol for at least eight hours before diving and at least one hour after diving. If you drank alcohol the night before, it is crucial to rehydrate by drinking plenty of water before diving.

Frequently asked questions