Tipsy Travelers: Is Your Vacation a Drinking Destination?

The travel industry is preparing for one of the busiest summer seasons in a while. It’s not just tropical destinations attracting travelers, but the lone star state of Texas is home to one of the top ten party places in the nation. Dallas ranks the 9th “best party town” in the U.S. The city has more than 1,000 bars and 700 music venues, with that many options it’s no surprise people tend to drink more while on vacation.

Summer Drinking Habits

According to country singer Darius Rucker, summertime is all “Beers and Sunshine.” He isn’t the only one who shares this opinion as many Americans partake in consuming alcohol during the hot season. Summertime is also scattered with holidays including Memorial Day, 4^th of July, and Labor Day which can also provide opportunities to drink alcohol.

People are more likely to drink alcohol on holidays than other times during the year.¹ A survey on summer drinking trends in the United States found that individuals had the highest blood alcohol content (BAC) on the 4^th of July and that many of the other high drinking days during summer fell on a Saturday.²

Do People Drink More Alcohol on Vacation?

According to survey results from The Vacationer, almost 68% of adults intend to travel during the summer months of 2022. Some travelers start drinking on the plane, others wait until they have reached their destination before consuming alcohol. In fact, 53.2% of vacationers drink during their trip and more than 1 in 5 adults make their vacation decisions (such as destination) based on alcohol drinks offered. ³

To make it easy, the internet is full of guides to vacation drinking including How to Nail the Perfect Buzz to Last Your Entire Vacation and The Definitive Guide to Drinking in Airports. However, an increase in alcohol consumption can lead to an increased risk of alcohol-related dangers that may not only ruin your trip but also come with serious consequences.

Dangers of Drinking Too Much

People who increase their consumption of alcohol during vacation are at a higher risk of engaging in binge drinking behavior. Binge drinking is when a person drinks enough alcohol to raise their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%. This typically occurs when a man drinks 5 or more drinks and a woman drinks 4 or more drinks in a two-hour period.⁴

Binge drinking behavior can lead to potentially serious consequences including⁴:

• Alcohol poisoning.
• Dehydration.
• Putting yourself or others in harm’s way.
• Death.
• Unsafe sexual behavior.
• Memory loss.
• Other risky behavior.

Another danger of drinking, especially during the hot summer months, is dehydration. Alcohol reduces your body’s ability to balance fluids and increases urination, leading to accelerated dehydration. Dehydration can intensify the negative effects of intoxication, including altered thinking and discussion making.⁵

How to Treat Alcohol Use Disorders

Being a tipsy traveler or participating in binge drinking behavior does not mean you or your loved one has an alcohol use disorder. However, misusing alcohol can increase your risk of developing an addiction to alcohol.⁶ To be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, a person must exhibit a certain pattern of behavior and be diagnosed by a certified professional.

If you are looking for alcohol rehab near Dallas, Greenhouse Treatment Center treats alcohol use disorders and other substance use disorders. Plus, most insurance plans cover rehab. Check the verification of benefits tool to see if your treatment is covered.