Fancy a hot bath and a glass of wine tonight? Don't overdo it.
An analysis from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of 195 adults who died in a bathtub or hot tub between 2015 and 2024 found drugs or alcohol contributed to the majority of deaths. A medical episode or injury led to 67 of the deaths, but substance use was a contributor in 113.
Many of the deaths included blood-alcohol concentrations multiple times over the legal driving limit, the study's lead author Shane Darke said.
'A lot of people would like to have a bath and a glass of wine or a beer or whatever,' the University of NSW emeritus professor said.
'But I think we need to get away from this view that it's a safe place to do that.
'There's a real risk there.'
The deaths occurred between 2015 and 2024 at a rate of more than one every month, across a wide range of ages, with an average of 55.
'People would probably be surprised by that … because all the attention is on rivers and ocean swimming,' he said.
'There's a whole lot of unforgiving surfaces (in bathrooms).
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New study warns of the dangers of enjoying a glass of wine in the bath
Slippery, hard-surfaced bathrooms are not safe places to be using drugs or drinking, Australian researchers investigating bathtub drownings say. An analysis from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of 195 adults who died in a bathtub or hot tub between 2015 and 2024 found drugs or alcohol contributed to the majority of deaths. A medical episode or injury led to 67 of the deaths, but substance use was a contributor in 113. Many of the deaths included blood-alcohol concentrations multiple times over the legal driving limit, the study's lead author Shane Darke said. 'A lot of people would like to have a bath and a glass of wine or a beer or whatever,' the University of NSW emeritus professor said. 'But I think we need to get away from this view that it's a safe place to do that. 'There's a real risk there.' The deaths occurred between 2015 and 2024 at a rate of more than one every month, across a wide range of ages, with an average of 55. 'People would probably be surprised by that … because all the attention is on rivers and ocean swimming,' he said. 'There's a whole lot of unforgiving surfaces (in bathrooms).
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
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New study warns of the dangers of enjoying a glass of wine in the bath
Slippery, hard-surfaced bathrooms are not safe places to be using drugs or drinking, Australian researchers investigating bathtub drownings say. An analysis from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of 195 adults who died in a bathtub or hot tub between 2015 and 2024 found drugs or alcohol contributed to the majority of deaths. A medical episode or injury led to 67 of the deaths, but substance use was a contributor in 113. Many of the deaths included blood-alcohol concentrations multiple times over the legal driving limit, the study's lead author Shane Darke said. 'A lot of people would like to have a bath and a glass of wine or a beer or whatever,' the University of NSW emeritus professor said. 'But I think we need to get away from this view that it's a safe place to do that. 'There's a real risk there.' The deaths occurred between 2015 and 2024 at a rate of more than one every month, across a wide range of ages, with an average of 55. 'People would probably be surprised by that … because all the attention is on rivers and ocean swimming,' he said. 'There's a whole lot of unforgiving surfaces (in bathrooms).
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