More than one in three people with East Asian heritage (Chinese, Japanese and Korean) experience facial flushing when drinking beer, wine or spirits. In Asian populations, it is due to an inherited deficiency in one of the enzymes involved in the breakdown of alcohol: aldehyde dehydrogenase.
Who might have alcohol intolerance? People of East Asian descent are more likely to have the inherited genetic mutation that causes alcohol intolerance, so they develop the condition at higher rates.
Red wine is more likely to cause a reaction than any other alcoholic drink. Beer and whiskey also can cause reactions because both are made from four common allergens: yeast, hops, barley, and wheat.
Alcohol intolerance occurs when your body doesn't have the proper enzymes to break down (metabolize) the toxins in alcohol. This is caused by inherited (genetic) traits most often found in Asians.
If in doubt, gin or vodka has the lowest histamine levels of all alcoholic drinks and are usually a safer bet for allergy sufferers.
When it comes to spirits, stick to tequila, vodka and gin. They're lower in histamine than other liquors. For vodka, stick to the plain types, as flavored vodkas can have higher histamine levels.
Histamine Intolerance
This is the same chemical involved in allergic reactions in the body. Although red wine is especially high in histamines, all alcoholic beverages have high levels of histamine.
Gin — the saving grace for alcohol intolerance
However, for those who are intolerant, the good news is that there is a solution — gin! Low in histamine and free from sulphites — the chemicals that cause intolerance and allergies — gin is the best choice out of all alcoholic beverages.
In North America, Native Americans have the highest probability of developing an alcohol use disorder compared to Europeans and Asians. Different alcohol tolerance also exists within Asian groups, such as between Chinese and Koreans.
Drinks to Avoid With a Nut Allergy
Be on the lookout for a number of liqueurs that contain nuts. Those with almond allergies should avoid Amaretto, Amadeus, and Galliano, while people sensitive to hazelnuts should stay away from crème de noix, Frangelico, and Nocello.
Alcohol Intolerance as a Result of Disease
Certain diseases can affect how well alcohol dehydrogenase functions. Hodgkin's lymphoma, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and other diseases can all cause a sudden onset of alcohol intolerance in those who never before experienced difficulty drinking.
Signs and symptoms of alcohol intolerance — or of a reaction to ingredients in an alcoholic beverage — can include: Facial redness (flushing) Red, itchy skin bumps (hives) Worsening of pre-existing asthma.
One of these gene variants, which generates a nonfunctional enzyme, is present in Asians but not in Caucasians and African-Americans. People with two copies of the defective gene respond to alcohol consumption with intense flushing and other unpleasant reactions, such as nausea.
A true allergic to vodka, or alcohol, is extremely rare so it's more likely that you have an intolerance to alcohol in general. If you experience immediate negative symptoms after drinking vodka, it's important to speak to your doctor before drinking again.
A genetic variation that affects the way alcohol is metabolized may make some people flush, sweat or become ill after drinking even a small amount of alcohol. Factors that may make a hangover more likely or severe include: Drinking on an empty stomach.
"Asian flush" is common in East Asians, with approximately 30 to 50% of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans showing characteristic physiological responses to drinking alcohol that includes facial flushing, nausea, headaches and a fast heart rate.
Belarus, a country that drinks the most liters of pure alcohol than any other country in the world, was also classified as having one the riskiest pattern of drinking.
People can also develop allergies to the plant and fungal sources of alcoholic beverages, such as grapes, hops, barley, rye, wheat, and yeast. Alcohol allergies are rare but can have serious medical consequences, including death. A related condition, called alcohol intolerance, is more common.
The only way to avoid alcohol intolerance symptoms or an allergic reaction is to avoid alcohol or the particular beverage or ingredients that cause the problem. For a minor reaction, over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines might help reduce symptoms, such as itching or hives.
Significant health benefits can be noted, because gin is very low in histamine.
In general, plain vodka, gin, tequila, or white rum are your best options to use in low histamine cocktails.