Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGluten SensitivityHistamine IntoleranceSulfite AllergiesYeast AllergiesGrape AllergiesCorn AllergiesFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Gluten Sensitivity
Histamine Intolerance
Sulfite Allergies
Yeast Allergies
Grape Allergies
Corn Allergies
Frequently Asked Questions
If drinking alcohol—also known as ethanol—gives youfood allergy symptomssuch as flushing or hives, you may have an intolerance to alcohol.A food allergy is an abnormal immune reaction to things we eat, while a food intolerance is an adverse reaction to food that does not involve the immune system.
Although true allergies to alcohol are rare, alcoholic beverages have ingredients that can cause symptoms of allergy or intolerance. These include:
Some people may even have reactions to grapes or corn used to make wine and distilled liquors.
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This article looks at some of the possible causes of alcohol allergy or intolerance. It also offers tips on how to drink alcohol safely if you have an allergy or intolerance to any ingredient used to make wine,beer, or distilled spirits.
Gluten, the protein that triggersceliac diseasesymptoms, is mainly found in three grains: wheat, barley, and rye. Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, triggering inflammation in the small intestine and symptoms like diarrhea and bloating.
Malted barley is used to make beer and some other alcoholic drinks, such as whiskey, and some alcoholic drinks contain wheat. Therefore, if you have celiac disease or non-celiacgluten sensitivity, you’ll need to steer clear of conventional beer and some other drinks.
If you have a wheat allergy, you can drink beer that is made with barley but not wheat.
Things get more complicated when it comes to distilled alcohol. Gin, vodka, and whiskey are all made from gluten-containing grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. Unless gluten-containing flavorings are addedafterthe distillation process, distilled spirits are considered gluten-free. The same applies to distilled alcohol made from wheat if you have a wheat allergy.
Even so, many people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity report reactions to distilled spirits made from gluten grains. If this is you, you can consider drinking potato-based or grape-based vodka. There are also certain whiskeys made from sorghum (a gluten-free grain).
Wine and most brandies are also gluten-free.
RecapPeople with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or a wheat allergy may need to steer clear of conventional beer. Wine and distilled spirits are generally considered safe.
Recap
People with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or a wheat allergy may need to steer clear of conventional beer. Wine and distilled spirits are generally considered safe.
Many foods, including red wine and aged cheese, are high in histamine. This is the same chemical involved in allergic reactions in the body.
A reaction to high-histamine foods could be a sign of histamine intolerance. Your body has two enzymes that are supposed to break down histamine, but sometimes they don’t work as well as they should.
If they don’t, you may experience a so-called “red wine headache” and other symptoms. These include itchy or flushed skin, red eyes, facial swelling, runny nose, and congestion.
Although red wine is especially high in histamines, all alcoholic beverages have high levels of histamine.
Antihistamineslike Allegra (fexofenadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) can help alleviate histamine intolerance symptoms. However, the best treatment is the avoidance of histamine in the foods we consume, including alcohol.
RecapIf you experience headache, flushing, itching, or congestion after drinking red wine, it may be because you have histamine intolerance.
If you experience headache, flushing, itching, or congestion after drinking red wine, it may be because you have histamine intolerance.
The Truth About “ Cocktail Headaches”
A group of sulfur-containing compounds known assulfitesoccurs naturally in wine and beer. They help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.Some vintners add more sulfites to wines because they act as preservatives.
While most people can tolerate sulfites in foods, there are some who are especially sensitive to them and may experience an asthma attack. In rare instances, exposure to sulfites has been known to cause a potentially life-threatening, whole-body allergy known asanaphylaxis.
Because of this, labeling laws in the United States require any food with sulfite concentrations greater than 10 parts per million (ppm) to include the words “contains sulfites” on their label.
If you have an extreme sulfite sensitivity or are at risk of anaphylaxis, you will need to carry anEpiPento self-inject yourself withepinephrine(adrenaline) in the event of an emergency.
RecapSulfites naturally found in wine and beer can cause asthma symptoms in people who are sensitive to sulfites. In rare cases, a reaction can be severe and lead to anaphylaxis.
Sulfites naturally found in wine and beer can cause asthma symptoms in people who are sensitive to sulfites. In rare cases, a reaction can be severe and lead to anaphylaxis.
What Is Anaphylaxis?
The type of yeast used to ferment many alcoholic beverages and to make dough rise is known asbrewer’s yeastor baker’s yeast.
Allergies to brewer’s yeast and other yeasts have been well-documented in the medical literature. They are most likely to occur in people who have mold allergies.Yeast is used in all fermented alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, hard cider, and sake. People with yeast allergies should avoid these.
RecapPeople with mold or yeast allergies may have an allergic reaction to the brewer’s yeast used to make fermented beverages like beer, wine, and hard cider.
People with mold or yeast allergies may have an allergic reaction to the brewer’s yeast used to make fermented beverages like beer, wine, and hard cider.
Grape allergies are rare, but they have been reported in some medical journals. In addition to wine, people with grape allergies may need to avoid Armagnac, cognac, ouzo, vermouth, port, and champagne. Most wine coolers and packaged martini mixes should also be struck from the list.
Possible alternatives to wine and grape-based spirits include Japanese plum wine, which has an appealingly sweet taste. Calvados, an apple brandy, is another option.
RecapPeople with grape allergies need to avoid wine and distilled spirits made with grapes, including cognac, ouzo, and vermouth.
People with grape allergies need to avoid wine and distilled spirits made with grapes, including cognac, ouzo, and vermouth.
Corn Allergies and Intolerances
It is unclear if distilled alcohol made from corn is safe for people withcorn allergies. To date, there is little strong evidence of this, though distillation is likely to leave behind only negligible amounts of the proteins from the corn, if any.
Even so, if you have a severe corn allergy, you may want to avoid corn-based spirits, most especially bourbon. Gin, whiskey, brandy, and some vodkas may also use corn as an ingredient or flavoring, so be sure to check the label.
Beer and wine are considered safe.
There is little evidence that distilled spirits made from corn, including bourbon, pose a risk to people with corn allergies or intolerance.
Summary
While an allergy to alcohol is rare, an allergy or intolerance to ingredients used to make wine, beer, or distilled spirits can.
These include grains like wheat, barley, and rye used to make beer, which can affect people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergies. Red wine contains high levels of histamine and may cause headaches, congestion, and itching in people with histamine intolerance.
People with sulfite allergies will likely need to avoid red wine. Similarly, those with a mold or yeast allergy may need to steer clear of fermented beverages made with brewer’s yeast, including beer and wine.
While rare, people with grape allergies should avoid wine and grape-based liquors, including brandy. Even less common is an allergy or intolerance to corn-based liquors like bourbon.
A Word From Verywell
If you have any type of food allergy, it is important to be careful about the alcoholic beverages you drink. It helps to read the product label, although many ingredients used in the fermentation or distillation process may not be included.
If in doubt, ask your allergy specialist for advice about the types of alcoholic beverages you can or cannot drink.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAlcohol intolerance is a genetic metabolic disorder that does not allow the body to process alcohol properly, whereas alcohol allergy is an immune response to an ingredient in the alcohol.No, there is no cure for alcohol allergies or intolerance, but it is possible to manage symptoms.Your healthcare provider may perform an ethanol patch test in which a drop of alcohol (ethanol) is placed on a piece of gauze and taped to the skin. If you have a skin reaction such as a rash, itching, or swelling, it is an indication that you are allergic to alcohol, whether you drink it or come into contact with it.It is not recommended. If someone with alcohol intolerance consumes alcohol, they are at greater risk for head and neck cancer, liver disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Alcohol intolerance is a genetic metabolic disorder that does not allow the body to process alcohol properly, whereas alcohol allergy is an immune response to an ingredient in the alcohol.
No, there is no cure for alcohol allergies or intolerance, but it is possible to manage symptoms.
Your healthcare provider may perform an ethanol patch test in which a drop of alcohol (ethanol) is placed on a piece of gauze and taped to the skin. If you have a skin reaction such as a rash, itching, or swelling, it is an indication that you are allergic to alcohol, whether you drink it or come into contact with it.
It is not recommended. If someone with alcohol intolerance consumes alcohol, they are at greater risk for head and neck cancer, liver disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Why Do I Have Pain After Drinking Alcohol?
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol flush reaction: does drinking alcohol make your face red?Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food intolerances.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1684. doi:10.3390/nu11071684Bansal RA, Tadros S, Bansal AS.Beer, cider, and wine allergy.Case Reports Immunol. 2017;2017:7958924. doi:10.1155/2017/7958924Cianferoni A.Wheat allergy: diagnosis and management.J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:13–25. doi:10.2147/JAA.S81550Johanson L.The gluten-free frenzy: fad or fitting?Medsurg Nurs. 2015;24(4):213-217.Zhao Y, Zhang X, Jin H, Chen L, Ji J, Zhang Z.Histamine intolerance—a kind of pseudoallergic reaction.Biomolecules. 2022;12(3):454. doi:10.3390/biom12030454Krymchantowski AV, Da Cunha Jevoux C.Wine and headache.Headache. 2014;54(6):967-975. doi:10.1111/head.12365Irwin SV, Fisher P, Graham E, Malek A, Robidoux A.Sulfites inhibit the growth of four species of beneficial gut bacteria at concentrations regarded as safe for food.PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186629. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186629Wüthrich B.Allergic and intolerance reactions to wine.Allergol Select. 2018;2(1):80-88. doi:10.5414/ALX01420ELahue C, Madden AA, Dunn RR, Smukowski Heil C.History and domestication ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaein bread baking.Front Genet. 2020;11:584718. doi:10.3389/fgene.2020.584718Twaroch TE, Curin M, Valenta R, Swoboda I.Mold allergens in respiratory allergy: from structure to therapy.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015;7(3):205–220. doi:10.4168/aair.2015.7.3.205Jaeckels N, Bellinghausen I, Fronk P, Heydenreich B, Saloga J, Decker H.Assessment of sensitization to grape and wine allergens as possible causes of adverse reactions to wine: a pilot study.Clin Transl Allergy. 2015;5:21. doi:10.1186/s13601-015-0065-8EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Processing Aids (CEP), Lambré C, Barat Baviera JM, et al.Process-specific technical data used in exposure assessment of food enzymes.EFSA J. 2021;19(12):e07010. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2021.7010Annunziata A, Pomarici E, Vecchio R, Mariani A.Do consumers want more nutritional and health information on wine labels? Insights from the EU and USA.Nutrients. 2016;8(7):416. doi:10.3390/nu8070416Cleveland Clinic.Alcohol intolerance.Kawaguchi D, Lee J, Lin MJ, Yokoyama I.Is Asian flushing syndrome a disadvantage in the labor market?Health Econ. 2023;32(7):1478-1503. doi:10.1002/hec.4675Chen CH, Ferreira JCB, Joshi AU, et al.Novel and prevalent non-East Asian ALDH2 variants; implications for global susceptibility to aldehydes' toxicity.EBioMedicine. 2020;55:102753. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102753Cedars-Sinai.Alcohol intolerance: what you need to know.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol flush reaction: does drinking alcohol make your face red?Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food intolerances.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1684. doi:10.3390/nu11071684Bansal RA, Tadros S, Bansal AS.Beer, cider, and wine allergy.Case Reports Immunol. 2017;2017:7958924. doi:10.1155/2017/7958924Cianferoni A.Wheat allergy: diagnosis and management.J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:13–25. doi:10.2147/JAA.S81550Johanson L.The gluten-free frenzy: fad or fitting?Medsurg Nurs. 2015;24(4):213-217.Zhao Y, Zhang X, Jin H, Chen L, Ji J, Zhang Z.Histamine intolerance—a kind of pseudoallergic reaction.Biomolecules. 2022;12(3):454. doi:10.3390/biom12030454Krymchantowski AV, Da Cunha Jevoux C.Wine and headache.Headache. 2014;54(6):967-975. doi:10.1111/head.12365Irwin SV, Fisher P, Graham E, Malek A, Robidoux A.Sulfites inhibit the growth of four species of beneficial gut bacteria at concentrations regarded as safe for food.PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186629. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186629Wüthrich B.Allergic and intolerance reactions to wine.Allergol Select. 2018;2(1):80-88. doi:10.5414/ALX01420ELahue C, Madden AA, Dunn RR, Smukowski Heil C.History and domestication ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaein bread baking.Front Genet. 2020;11:584718. doi:10.3389/fgene.2020.584718Twaroch TE, Curin M, Valenta R, Swoboda I.Mold allergens in respiratory allergy: from structure to therapy.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015;7(3):205–220. doi:10.4168/aair.2015.7.3.205Jaeckels N, Bellinghausen I, Fronk P, Heydenreich B, Saloga J, Decker H.Assessment of sensitization to grape and wine allergens as possible causes of adverse reactions to wine: a pilot study.Clin Transl Allergy. 2015;5:21. doi:10.1186/s13601-015-0065-8EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Processing Aids (CEP), Lambré C, Barat Baviera JM, et al.Process-specific technical data used in exposure assessment of food enzymes.EFSA J. 2021;19(12):e07010. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2021.7010Annunziata A, Pomarici E, Vecchio R, Mariani A.Do consumers want more nutritional and health information on wine labels? Insights from the EU and USA.Nutrients. 2016;8(7):416. doi:10.3390/nu8070416Cleveland Clinic.Alcohol intolerance.Kawaguchi D, Lee J, Lin MJ, Yokoyama I.Is Asian flushing syndrome a disadvantage in the labor market?Health Econ. 2023;32(7):1478-1503. doi:10.1002/hec.4675Chen CH, Ferreira JCB, Joshi AU, et al.Novel and prevalent non-East Asian ALDH2 variants; implications for global susceptibility to aldehydes' toxicity.EBioMedicine. 2020;55:102753. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102753Cedars-Sinai.Alcohol intolerance: what you need to know.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol flush reaction: does drinking alcohol make your face red?Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food intolerances.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1684. doi:10.3390/nu11071684Bansal RA, Tadros S, Bansal AS.Beer, cider, and wine allergy.Case Reports Immunol. 2017;2017:7958924. doi:10.1155/2017/7958924Cianferoni A.Wheat allergy: diagnosis and management.J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:13–25. doi:10.2147/JAA.S81550Johanson L.The gluten-free frenzy: fad or fitting?Medsurg Nurs. 2015;24(4):213-217.Zhao Y, Zhang X, Jin H, Chen L, Ji J, Zhang Z.Histamine intolerance—a kind of pseudoallergic reaction.Biomolecules. 2022;12(3):454. doi:10.3390/biom12030454Krymchantowski AV, Da Cunha Jevoux C.Wine and headache.Headache. 2014;54(6):967-975. doi:10.1111/head.12365Irwin SV, Fisher P, Graham E, Malek A, Robidoux A.Sulfites inhibit the growth of four species of beneficial gut bacteria at concentrations regarded as safe for food.PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186629. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186629Wüthrich B.Allergic and intolerance reactions to wine.Allergol Select. 2018;2(1):80-88. doi:10.5414/ALX01420ELahue C, Madden AA, Dunn RR, Smukowski Heil C.History and domestication ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaein bread baking.Front Genet. 2020;11:584718. doi:10.3389/fgene.2020.584718Twaroch TE, Curin M, Valenta R, Swoboda I.Mold allergens in respiratory allergy: from structure to therapy.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015;7(3):205–220. doi:10.4168/aair.2015.7.3.205Jaeckels N, Bellinghausen I, Fronk P, Heydenreich B, Saloga J, Decker H.Assessment of sensitization to grape and wine allergens as possible causes of adverse reactions to wine: a pilot study.Clin Transl Allergy. 2015;5:21. doi:10.1186/s13601-015-0065-8EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Processing Aids (CEP), Lambré C, Barat Baviera JM, et al.Process-specific technical data used in exposure assessment of food enzymes.EFSA J. 2021;19(12):e07010. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2021.7010Annunziata A, Pomarici E, Vecchio R, Mariani A.Do consumers want more nutritional and health information on wine labels? Insights from the EU and USA.Nutrients. 2016;8(7):416. doi:10.3390/nu8070416Cleveland Clinic.Alcohol intolerance.Kawaguchi D, Lee J, Lin MJ, Yokoyama I.Is Asian flushing syndrome a disadvantage in the labor market?Health Econ. 2023;32(7):1478-1503. doi:10.1002/hec.4675Chen CH, Ferreira JCB, Joshi AU, et al.Novel and prevalent non-East Asian ALDH2 variants; implications for global susceptibility to aldehydes' toxicity.EBioMedicine. 2020;55:102753. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102753Cedars-Sinai.Alcohol intolerance: what you need to know.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol flush reaction: does drinking alcohol make your face red?
Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food intolerances.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1684. doi:10.3390/nu11071684
Bansal RA, Tadros S, Bansal AS.Beer, cider, and wine allergy.Case Reports Immunol. 2017;2017:7958924. doi:10.1155/2017/7958924
Cianferoni A.Wheat allergy: diagnosis and management.J Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:13–25. doi:10.2147/JAA.S81550
Johanson L.The gluten-free frenzy: fad or fitting?Medsurg Nurs. 2015;24(4):213-217.
Zhao Y, Zhang X, Jin H, Chen L, Ji J, Zhang Z.Histamine intolerance—a kind of pseudoallergic reaction.Biomolecules. 2022;12(3):454. doi:10.3390/biom12030454
Krymchantowski AV, Da Cunha Jevoux C.Wine and headache.Headache. 2014;54(6):967-975. doi:10.1111/head.12365
Irwin SV, Fisher P, Graham E, Malek A, Robidoux A.Sulfites inhibit the growth of four species of beneficial gut bacteria at concentrations regarded as safe for food.PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186629. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186629
Wüthrich B.Allergic and intolerance reactions to wine.Allergol Select. 2018;2(1):80-88. doi:10.5414/ALX01420E
Lahue C, Madden AA, Dunn RR, Smukowski Heil C.History and domestication ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaein bread baking.Front Genet. 2020;11:584718. doi:10.3389/fgene.2020.584718
Twaroch TE, Curin M, Valenta R, Swoboda I.Mold allergens in respiratory allergy: from structure to therapy.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015;7(3):205–220. doi:10.4168/aair.2015.7.3.205
Jaeckels N, Bellinghausen I, Fronk P, Heydenreich B, Saloga J, Decker H.Assessment of sensitization to grape and wine allergens as possible causes of adverse reactions to wine: a pilot study.Clin Transl Allergy. 2015;5:21. doi:10.1186/s13601-015-0065-8
EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Processing Aids (CEP), Lambré C, Barat Baviera JM, et al.Process-specific technical data used in exposure assessment of food enzymes.EFSA J. 2021;19(12):e07010. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2021.7010
Annunziata A, Pomarici E, Vecchio R, Mariani A.Do consumers want more nutritional and health information on wine labels? Insights from the EU and USA.Nutrients. 2016;8(7):416. doi:10.3390/nu8070416
Cleveland Clinic.Alcohol intolerance.
Kawaguchi D, Lee J, Lin MJ, Yokoyama I.Is Asian flushing syndrome a disadvantage in the labor market?Health Econ. 2023;32(7):1478-1503. doi:10.1002/hec.4675
Chen CH, Ferreira JCB, Joshi AU, et al.Novel and prevalent non-East Asian ALDH2 variants; implications for global susceptibility to aldehydes' toxicity.EBioMedicine. 2020;55:102753. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102753
Cedars-Sinai.Alcohol intolerance: what you need to know.
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