While there are myths that suggest otherwise, whiskey and other types of alcohol are not recommended for treating a cold. It’s best to avoid alcohol while recovering from an upper respiratory infection. Alcohol is dehydrating, can negatively impact the immune system, and can be unsafe with cold medications.

There is no cure for the common cold, but there are better supportive measures than whiskey to help provide relief.

Does Whiskey Help Ease Cold Symptoms?

There are some myths about how whiskey and alcohol might help a cold. Drinking alcohol will not help to kill germs in your body. It might make matters worse due to the effect of alcohol on the immune system.

Alcohol can worsen congestion by causing vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels). It also disrupts function in the body’s upper airways and impairs the function of cells the immune system needs to fight off disease.

Could a Hot Toddy Help?

A hot toddy is a whiskey beverage served warm with water, lemon, and honey. Many people consider this a home remedy for a cold. While the hot beverage itself, the water, lemon, and honey may all help with a cold, it’s unlikely that whiskey adds much benefit.

Making a hot toddy without whiskey might help, though. Honey has cough-suppressing qualities, and studies suggest it may improve symptoms of upper respiratory infections.

Lemons contain vitamin C, which is important for immune health. Some studies suggest supplementing higher levels of vitamin C may help with cold symptoms.

Can Alcohol Help Prevent Colds?

Heavy drinking impairs the immune system and increases susceptibility to illness. Recent data suggests there may not be any safe level of alcohol to drink, so drinking alcohol to prevent colds is outweighed by the risk of developing cancer, even with low or moderate levels of alcohol consumption.

Risks of Frequent Alcohol Use

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

Frequent alcohol use and heavy alcohol use (such as binge drinking) pose health threats, including:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Immune suppression
• Injury
• Liver disease
• Mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety
• Sexually transmitted infections

Tips for Cold Relief

While alcohol isn’t recommended to treat cold symptoms, other home remedies can provide relief. These include:

• Drinking plenty of water
• Inhaling steam in the shower or over a bowl of hot water with a towel draped over your head
• Over-the-counter medications, with guidance from your healthcare provider, including decongestants, cough expectorants, throat lozenges, and pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen)
• Using a nasal saline spray

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

If your cold symptoms persist after several days or if you have more concerning symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.

Concerning symptoms to speak with your healthcare provider about include:

• Dehydration
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever for more than four days
• Symptoms lasting more than ten days
• Significant worsening of existing medical conditions like diabetes

Summary

Whiskey and other types of alcohol are not recommended to treat or prevent colds. Alcohol as a decongestant or that it can help kill off an infection are myths. Alcohol can make it harder to fight off infection and contribute to dehydration.

While there’s no cure for the common cold, some treatments help with symptoms. Other home remedies are drinking hot tea with honey and lemon and breathing in steam from a hot shower.