A quick swim after an afternoon of beers in the sun may seem a good idea to some, but medical professionals and lifesavers are warning of potentially tragic consequences.
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After observing alcohol play a part in numerous drownings in recent years, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called on Canberrans to abstain from alcohol at the beach and to watch out for loved ones while swimming.
Associate Professor Brian Owler, president of the Australian Medical Association, said alcohol was involved in 41 per cent of drownings of Australians aged 15 to 29 years in 2012/13.
"Too many people are using alcohol when taking part in, or supervising, water activities – and the mix is deadly," he said.
"Alcohol impairs judgement, co-ordination, reaction time, and increases risk-taking behaviours."
Far South Coast Lifesaving spokeswoman Donna Wishart said volunteers on NSW beaches were accustomed to dealing with intoxicated swimmers during the Christmas to New Year's Eve period.
"We know that when people drink, their faculties are impaired, and swimming while drunk would be quite similar to how you'd drive a car after drinking too much," she said.
"You're obviously going to take risks and have an inflated sense of your own abilities, plus you heart rate and blood pressure are usually higher, which makes your body less likely to deal with situations well."
Professor Owler said alcohol was a constant feature of Australian summers, with families and friends often catching up over a few drinks at the beach or pool.
"With the holidays and warm weather drawing millions to the water to cool off and relax, the risk of deaths and injury from drowning rises," he said.
"Doctors do not want to be seeing deaths or injuries from water recreation misadventure this year."
Ms Wishart said those taking to the beach after a few too many drinks posed difficult challenges for lifesavers, who must ensure everybody's safety.
"We put the lifeguards on for extra hours on busy days just because of that, especially when people have been partying and have had a skinful," she said.
"After a big night, people often go to the beach and try to swim off their hangover, and that's when we start to see the issues"
Dehydration is a massive issue on warm days, especially around New Year, when people fall asleep on the beach following a night of drinking and wake up with burns and, occasionally, heat exhaustion.
The AMA has also called on parents to keep a close eye on children swimming in rivers, pools and even baths during the summer months.
"Children are particularly vulnerable around both large and small bodies of water, and require a sober adult to watch them closely," Professor Owler said.
"Of the 153 children aged one to four hospitalised for near-drowning, 90 resulted from swimming pools.
"Blow-up and collapsible pools are not fenced but pose the same risks of drowning as inbuilt pools. Close supervision and draining after use reduce the risk."
Professor Owler said 75 per cent of infant drownings occurred in the bathtub, and infants and children could drown in as little as 5cm of water.
"Too many Australians are meeting tragedy in the water when they are supposed to be having a relaxed time with family and friends," he said.
