Research suggests that up to 10 percent of asthmatics are sensitive to sulphites, with the severity of reactions varying from mild to life-threatening. “The wheezing and nasal/sinus symptoms in particular are due to the release of sulphur dioxide gas causing airway irritation,” Dr Watts explains. When we consume alcohol, Alcoholics Anonymous our liver converts the ethanol present in it into acetaldehyde, a substance that can cause cell damage. However, our bodies also produce another enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), which helps convert acetaldehyde to acetic acid (vinegar), which is nontoxic. There is little evidence that distilled spirits made from corn, including bourbon, pose a risk to people with corn allergies or intolerance.

What Is an Alcohol Allergy?

If you’re allergic to another ingredient contained in certain alcoholic products, allergic to whiskey switching to a different drink might be an option. Individuals of Asian descent, those with asthma or hay fever, or those with allergies to grains or other foods are at higher risk for alcohol intolerance. Depending on whether a person has an alcohol allergy or intolerance, they may need to avoid alcohol entirely. A skin prick test should take place in a medical setting in case of a severe allergic reaction. The healthcare professional uses a lancet to pierce a person’s skin and apply a small amount of the suspected allergen to see if it causes a reaction. However, standardized skin testing using different types of alcohol is not currently available.

Alcohol Allergies and Intolerance

It was estimated that an American drank on average over 2.51 gallons of ethanol in 2021. While organic wines cannot add sulfites to their products by law, some contain enough natural sulfites to trigger a reaction in sensitive people. A group of sulfur-containing compounds known as sulfites occurs naturally in wine and beer.

Feel your skin for hives.

• Symptoms may occur within seconds or minutes of alcohol exposure and could trigger after exposure to even tiny amounts of the allergen.
• Individuals of Asian descent, those with asthma or hay fever, or those with allergies to grains or other foods are at higher risk for alcohol intolerance.
• In addition to physical and mental impairment, flushed skin, nausea, and headaches are typical bodily reactions to alcohol consumption.
• Depending on whether a person has an alcohol allergy or intolerance, they may need to avoid alcohol entirely.
• People with this condition usually experience swelling in the lymph nodes in areas including the neck, armpits, or groin.

Those of Asian ancestry may have the less-active variant of ALDH2, making it more difficult for them to properly digest alcohol. ALDH2 Deficiency, as it is known, is a common cause of alcohol intolerance. The primary difference between an alcohol allergy and an alcohol intolerance is the reaction each produces. Alcohol allergies are caused by the immune system and intolerance is a reaction from the digestive system. Usually, an alcohol intolerance is a reaction to one of the ingredients in alcohol and not necessarily the ethanol itself.

Gluten Sensitivity

Having a mild intolerance to alcohol or something else in alcoholic beverages might not require a trip to a doctor. Simply avoid alcohol, limit how much you drink or avoid certain types of alcoholic beverages. If you experience a mild allergic reaction, over-the-counter oral antihistamines may be enough to treat it. If you develop any signs of a severe reaction, you should receive one or more doses of epinephrine.