# Would you die of thirst if you only drank caffeinated (or alcoholic) beverages **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110 "2006-01-02T19:52:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/21 "2006-01-03T13:14:14Z")
There’s a thread out there somewhere that I started asking if you could survive on beer in the desert. The answer seemed to be Yes. [Found the thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=322617&highlight=beer) ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/22 "2006-01-03T13:41:00Z")
I believe it’s also relevant to take into account the rest of a person’s diet, as a certain amount of water intake comes from what we would call food rather than drink. Is the inveterate caffeine and alcohol consumer eating bread or soup? :dubious: OB ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/23 "2006-01-03T13:48:37Z")
Tea and coffee person here. I drink a couple of glasses of water before I go to bed, but that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/24 "2006-01-03T13:50:00Z")
> [@Obsidian](#): > > One of greatest peeves is being told that “caffeinated beverages don’t count” when it comes to how much you drink. For some reason, the nurses at the clinic I go to are the worst about this. My best friend went in once and they asked her how much she’d had to drink that day? She replies, 5 or 6 glasses of iced tea. They proceed to tell her that caffeine dehydrates you so much that it cancels out the water in your tea/soda, and that you need to drink 8-10 glasses of water on top of that, like the tea had never happened. > > She looked the woman in the eye and said, “Then I haven’t had anything to drink in months and should certainly be dead.” Nurses. Enough said. Good for wiping your brow or giving supervised treatments, but unfortunately many of them overestimate their medical knowledge and are prone to spreading myth. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, we do know this much, but typically they are delivered in high water-content beverages (as others have said). You don’t get as much benefit from the hydration as you would an uncaffeinated beverage, but your body’s hormonal regulatory system is smart enough not to sdehydrate you by scoffing at water when it is needed, even if it contains the dread caffeine or alcohol What is probably more dangerous that seldom gets talked about is that sodas or heavily sugared teas are very hypertonic, and it requires water to move this stuff through and out of the body. So diet sodas are better; I’d be worried about the person consuming gallons of sugared sode. But again, here, it’s delivered in plenty of water (and usually with food and crushed ice, which also contain water) so your body finds a way to balance it out. But likesay unless you’re in the desert or in the middle of heavy physical activity, you aren’t going to shrivel up like a raisin. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/25 "2006-01-03T14:49:50Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > Nurses. Enough said. Good for wiping your brow or giving supervised treatments, but unfortunately many of them overestimate their medical knowledge and are prone to spreading myth. Heh. Just wait until you next need a nurse! The devil’s definition of a nurse (applies to doctors and patients): 1. Someone who can help you and doesn’t. 2. someone who can hurt you and does. 😉 Don’t piss off your nurse, or the above may happen. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/26 "2006-01-03T16:46:25Z")
What about _wine_ on the desert? Or was Max Brand just making stuff up? ---
**Author:** ![blake22m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d2c977/32.png) [@blake22m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blake22m)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/27 "2014-06-03T09:25:54Z")
Yeah , right HMS. Because you’re a doctor. Have you seen the medical training real nurses go trough today? Actually nurses do everything in a hospital while the DR . Will come check the after work. I wonder what you do for a living? Stupid statement. ---
**Author:** ![blake22m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d2c977/32.png) [@blake22m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blake22m)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/28 "2014-06-03T09:30:49Z")
Also, nurses do not wipe your brow and give supervised treatment that’s a nurses aid. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/29 "2014-06-03T09:43:32Z")
All the previous posters have died a horrible death by dehydration…after all, the thread is eight years old! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/30 "2014-06-03T10:08:29Z")
> [@blake22m](#): > > Yeah , right HMS. Because you’re a doctor. Have you seen the medical training real nurses go trough today? Actually nurses do everything in a hospital while the DR . Will come check the after work. I wonder what you do for a living? Stupid statement. Are they trained to notice obvious things? Like, oh let’s say medicine that’s 8 years past expiry date. Also: someone’s jimmies got rustled. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/31 "2014-06-03T10:16:45Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > What about _wine_ on the desert? Or was Max Brand just making stuff up? In the thread which **Uncommon Sense** linked to there was an (uncited) recollection by **amarone** that liquids up to 10% alcohol were hydrating, and over that were dehydrating. Wine, at 12%, would presumably be dehydrating. However it would be nice to find a better cite for that. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/32 "2014-06-03T10:20:07Z")
In very hot weather if I am doing hard manual labor I drink water, right from the hose usually. Other than that about 4 cups a coffee each day and maybe one diet soda, one glass of fruit juice. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/33 "2014-06-03T10:50:43Z")
For much of the history of civilization, beer was much safer than water. When humans pile up in cities, shit happens (literally). Of course, boiled water was generally safe, so tea and coffee are also good. That whole 8 glasses of water a day is a crock anyway. I usually drink one pot of tea and two glasses of water a day (to swallow pills). I do not feel thirsty (except in the summer when I drink more–usually diet root beer or iced mint tea). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/34 "2014-06-03T13:39:46Z")
> [@](#): > > That whole 8 glasses of water a day is a crock anyway. Yes and no. That’s about the total amount of water you need, but that’s counting all sources. Most beverages are basically just water with impurities, and most foods have a lot of water, too. It’s important to note, too, that individuals vary. Some people just naturally sweat or pee more than others, and diuretics have greater or lesser effect on some people (either naturally or due to developed tolerance). ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/35 "2014-06-03T14:09:53Z")
zombie or no > [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > That whole 8 glasses of water a day is a crock anyway. a small crock. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/36 "2014-06-03T16:34:41Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > What about _wine_ on the desert? Or was Max Brand just making stuff up? I wonder if it would doom the person from alcohol poisoning if not dehydration. In the desert you’d need at least 2 liters of water a day even if you’re not particularly exerting yourself. Then, considering the, at least fairly noticeable, effects of wine, you might need 3 liters per day. Which is 18 (American) “drinks” worth, more than you can excrete in a day. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/37 "2014-06-03T16:35:08Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > In very hot weather if I am doing hard manual labor I drink water, right from the hose usually. That is the #1 drink of my childhood summertimes, right there. I can smell the plasticky-rubber scent of the hose water just typing this. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/38 "2014-06-03T19:05:34Z")
After reading Neal Stephenson’s _Baroque Cycle_, I read one of his sources (which I unfortunately can’t recall now) on this topic. You wouldn’t get dehydrated necessarily, but one consequence of getting all your fluid intake through non-water sources is a much higher incidence of bladder stones, due to more concentrated urine. Those aren’t as common these days in the developed world, which based on the descriptions is a big relief. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110/39 "2014-06-03T19:29:33Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Again, in the 1830s, no one would dare drink water – it was too likely to be contaminated. No one? :dubious: Maybe in urban areas people avoided water, but the unqualified statement “no one would dare drink water” trips my BS meter. A bit of googling turned up [this blog post](http://leslefts.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-great-medieval-water-myth.html) on “the great medieval water myth” > [@](#): > > The idea that Medieval people drank beer or wine to avoid drinking bad water is so established that even some very serious scholars see no reason to document or defend it; they simply repeat it as a settled truth. In fact, if no one ever documents the idea, it is for a very simple reason: _it’s not true_. and [this article on “water”](http://www.cambridge.org/us/books/kiple/water.htm) from the Cambridge World History of Food. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-die-of-thirst-if-you-only-drank-caffeinated-or-alcoholic-beverages/338110.md?page=1)