A full day of drinking in extreme heat can quickly become a medical problem. High temperatures increase fluid loss through sweating, while alcohol makes dehydration more likely.
Tensel warned that the combination can lead to dizziness, heat exhaustion, fainting and, in severe cases, heatstroke. Cooler evening temperatures will not necessarily solve the problem if supporters have already spent hours in the sun.
His advice is simple:
The wider emergency response is already under pressure. Craig Harman warned demand could “grow day on day over the next couple of days” and urged people to drink “plenty of water” between alcoholic drinks, stay out of the sun and avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest hours.
The responsibility does not end when the final whistle goes. Police forces have reminded motorists that alcohol consumed during or after the match can still affect them the following morning.
Inspector Matt Boiles highlighted what he called “one of the force's most common misconceptions”: that sleep alone is enough to make someone fit to drive again. It is not a safe assumption, particularly after a long day of drinking.
For England fans, the ideal build-up to Panama should be about energy, atmosphere and anticipation-not an avoidable trip to hospital or a dangerous drive home. As the tournament moves forward, supporters’ preparation could prove just as important as the team’s.