That's a good point. They could have spent a lot more time over their walk than has been estimated.
As a Brit, may I clarify that? Dark beers, stout and what is known as "real ale" are normally sold on draught and not refrigerated. They are not "warm" though! They are chilled, so taste cool but not ice-cold.
However, lager and other light beers are always drunk cold unless one doesn't have the means to chill it either by refrigeration or ice. I would guess that it's likely to be that type of refreshing beer that Barbara was drinking.
If - and obviously this is speculation - Barbara had drunk beer, maybe more than one, it could have affected her, possibly in combination with the heat and perhaps other unknown factors, and she might have become confused. That would be an explanation, a reason for her getting lost.
It is not "blame".
Generally, I am uneasy about the concept of "victim blaming" being used to stifle discussion. Actions have consequences and it's not helpful to be in denial about it.
Yes, the beer (which was stated to be in a travel mug, but I’m not able to go through the media thread yet again) could have played a role in her disappearance. I was, however, speaking about the recent spate of posts that once again call into question so many of Barbara’s choices that day (what she was wearing, time of day, time of year, beer drinking) and saying things like “I would wait until I was back from a hike for my beer,” as if the poster’s own personal experience would have kept them from Barbara’s fate.
There’s no evidence one way or another that the beer caused Barbara’s disappearance and so, I think, implying that she’d still be alive if only she behaved like the poster thinks she should have - that comes very close to victim blaming, for me. No different than saying that if only a rape victim hadn’t been drinking or wearing a skimpy top, they’d not have been raped.
I did not mean to imply that beer didn’t play a role in possible confusion. In fact, in general, I keep pointing out that clothing, time of day, etc. all could play a role, but that many people do exactly as Barbara did without negative consequences.
And I do think the travel mug likely kept her beer cold enough, but even if it didn’t, having lived in El Paso for a while, people do continue sipping on beer (if that’s the fluid they have) even if it gets warm. Thanks for the clarification re warm beer in Britain, because here in California, we hear about warm beer in Britain (and read about it on Trip Advisor). Warm beer is also a thing in Mexico. It’s also possible that the beer was long-finished and she was just carrying the cup. RT’s point, obviously, was that it appeared she was carrying a beer - no one passing by could have known what she was carrying, IMO.
To me, the only reason to keep bringing up the beer, thread after thread, is to point out RT’s lack of critical thinking skills. No one could have known what Barb had in her travel mug. With or without beer, people lose their bearings in the desert and go missing.
What I’d like to know is the exact place where RT and Barbara separated and whether his memory about time and distance are correct.