A cooler works fine for a temporary ice bath.

Yes, it is safe for a few hours.

Coolers are literally designed to hold ice and keep things cold. As long as the cooler is clean—no lingering raw meat juice or mold—you’re good. Drinks in cans or sealed bottles aren’t going to absorb anything from the plastic or metal.

The real concern is ice melt. If you’re just using it for a party, the ice will start melting after a few hours, but that’s normal. Just don’t leave it out overnight and expect the ice to still be solid. And if you’re worried about diluting drinks, use a separate bag of ice for the drinks themselves.

For a temporary setup, it beats buying a dedicated ice bucket every time.