Dumb question of the day: Opened drinks in your car, do they go bad?

[JeffreyJim]

Well, I did some quick calculations today and realized I've driven about 90,000 miles in the last 18 months. Yes, that's enough to circle the world 4(ish) times.

Being I drive so much, I basically live in my truck...

Over all these miles I stop at a lot of convience stores and buy bottles of gatorade, energy drinks, vitamin water...whatever. I sometimes drink the whole thing, other times drink half, cap it and throw it in the back...never really thought much about it.

Today I got in my truck and started drinking a couple-day-"Function-Alternative Energy" when a buddy here at work looked at me like I was nuts. He told me I'm probably going to get sick from the bacteria that has grown in the bottle after opening.

I never really thought anything about before this...and I have had some weird stomach things going on the last few months. Correleated, or am I just that much of a hypochondriac...

So, what do you guys think? Do drinks like really need to be kept cold after opening or can you live by the old "if it tastes fine then it's fine" addage...

Edit: Yes, I am THAT bored at work...and well aware of the ridiculousness of this question.

[bean]

you're fine

[Elkhound Odin]

Yep, you'll get sick. How sick depends on the opened-from-date. A couple days old - a little GI upset. A week old - you don't want to know. longer? forgetaboutit. Happened to me with a 1/2 bottle of gatoraid left in a backpack for a week, and it tasted just fine going down. So don't go by taste.

[EZB]

People whose mommy protected them from every little thing will get sick. They're allergic to a jillion things, too, and need permission before going outside barefoot.

If that didn't strike a chord, drink up you'll be fine.

[DoWork]

Drink more water in the summer. They're good forever. Otherwise, stick to stuff that's been opened within a day. Winter? Fuck, man- the world's your fridge.

[Crass3000]

Today I got in my truck and started drinking a couple-day-"Function-Alternative Energy" when a buddy here at work looked at me like I was nuts. He told me I'm probably going to get sick from the bacteria that has grown in the bottle after opening.
.

Yah I never drink something that has been opened a couple days ago and sitting in the car. The bacteria from your mouth inside a bottle of sugary water in a hot car for a couple days certainly makes a good situation for tons of bacteria to multiply. I just throw it away. Is it really worth getting sick?

[DirkaDirkaJack]

what about a bagel with cream cheese? I have eaten plenty of those that have been sitting in my warm car at least 24 hours later.

[LittleYellowFriend]

Well gatorade is just sugar. The worst thing that could happen is that it ferments and you get drunk.

If it was milk you'de have some sort of yogurt cheese drink.

I would be more worried about the chemicals from the plastic bottle, you might get bitch-tits or something.

[hitmanbob]

add a little alcohol to everything you drink, not only will it keep the drink sterile, but you'll be a hardened individual, especially if you drive 90k in 18 months and always have something to drink with you...

[lobstahmeatwad]

you need Seatcovers best ones made hit me up if you want.

[gatorboy]

pour some in a water bottle (so you can see) and wait. When you can see change, it already is well past the safe stage.

[Brock Landers]

I just ate some sort of chicken crock pot thing I had sitting in the crock pot for 3 days. Im still living.

[soho]

The only thing that matters is the temperature in which the bottle is stored. Obviously if you were storing this in the fridge, it wouldn't matter, but because it's in your truck and has likely been pretty hot all summer, it's practically a petri-dish for bacterial growth.

Having said that, I do it all the time.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

Send all your half-empties to your local high school so the kids can do a science experiment

[counterfeitfake]

I do this kind of thing pretty frequently. When people say "get sick", I just wonder. Do they mean "have one kind of nasty shit"? That happens to me sometimes. I have never gotten legitimately sick from any food, except for last week, after eating some clams. And I've been careless for many years.

Drink the stuff. Let us know what happens.

[HankScorpio]

add a little alcohol to everything you drink, not only will it keep the drink sterile, but you'll be a hardened individual, especially if you drive 90k in 18 months and always have something to drink with you...

A shot or two of clear booze in your Camelback bladder keeps it from freezing in the winter time too. Also helps you think you're warmer than you are.