The decision to crack open a beer on a hot summer day may be about more than refreshment, according to a new University of Georgia study .
The new research found that adverse childhood experiences , particularly negative relationships between a child and parent, were linked to more frequent drinking during periods of extreme heat.
The study found that periods of extreme heat were associated with higher alcohol consumption among adults age 50 and older. The decision to drink, however, may also be connected to key childhood experiences.
Participants who reported parental substance use problems or childhood encounters with law enforcement were more likely to drink during heat waves. Those who reported a good relationship with their father were less likely to drink.
Although it is unclear whether those negative childhood experiences directly contributed to later drinking patterns, the association is concerning — not only because alcohol consumption during extreme heat can increase the risks of dehydration and cardiovascular harm but also because of its potential psychological consequences, the researchers said.
“The findings suggest that experiences from childhood may remain relevant to drinking patterns decades later, particularly when people face environmental stressors,” said Hee Yun Lee , lead author of the study, Thomas P. Holland Distinguished Professor and associate dean for research in the UGA School of Social Work .
The researchers analyzed more than 20 years of data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal study of more than 20,000 U.S. adults age 50 and older. To assess participants’ exposure to extreme heat over the same period, the researchers linked that data with weather data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The analysis found that each additional day above 95 degrees Fahrenheit was associated with an incremental increase in weekly alcohol consumption. Exposure to 30 or more such days was associated with a 6.3% increase. Adults age 50 and older were even more likely to drink during sustained periods when temperatures exceeded 105 degrees.
The researchers noted several possible explanations for the association. Extreme heat can cause sweating and exhaustion, making a cold alcoholic beverage seem especially appealing. People may also perceive alcohol as a way to reduce irritability or stress on particularly exhausting days, even though it may worsen heat-related health risks.
Drinking a small amount may seem harmless, but it cannot become a long-term solution.
“You think, ‘Yesterday, I drank a beer, and it was great. Today, it’s 95 again, so I’ll drink one again.’ It becomes a coping habit,” Lee said. “It’s hot out, so people get into the routine of cooling off inside and having a cold beer or cocktail with ice.”
That pattern can be especially harmful for older adults who are already at greater risk for heat-related illness.
Expanding access to home air conditioning, cooling centers and other safe places to cool down could help.
“Drinking a small amount may seem harmless, but it cannot become a long-term solution,” Lee said. “We need to help older adults choose healthier ways to cope because repeated alcohol use may worsen both their physical and mental health. That is the larger concern.”
A person’s relationship with their father may also influence whether they drink during periods of extreme heat as they age, the study found.
Part of this association may stem from fathers’ own drinking behaviors, Lee said. Fathers who turned to alcohol may have modeled drinking as a coping strategy for their children. This behavior, combined with a disrupted parent-child relationship, may contribute to similar patterns in adulthood.
“When children see their father use alcohol to cope, that behavior can stay with them,” Lee said. “During a crisis later in life, drinking may feel like the way they are supposed to manage stress. These early experiences can be difficult to overcome without appropriate support.
“Childhood trauma can shape responses to stress across the life course. Early adversity may make later stressors feel more overwhelming and can limit opportunities to learn healthy coping strategies. When alcohol use is modeled at home, drinking may become a familiar — but harmful — response to stress that persists into later life.”
The study was published in JMIR Aging. Co-authors include Su Hyun Shin of the University of Utah, Yeon Jin Choi of the University of Kentucky, Eun Young Choi of Arizona State University and Hyunjung Ji of the University of Alabama.
JMIR Aging
Early-Life Experiences as Moderators of the Relationship Between Extreme Heat and Alcohol Consumption among Older Adults: Quantitative Study
10-Jun-2026