Alcohol and Asthma

In the March 2000 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Australian researchers reported on the frequency of possible allergic or allergy-like reactions to alcoholic beverages by 366 asthmatic interviewees.

156 (42.6 percent) reported allergic or allergic-like reactions to alcoholic drinks, including cough, blocked nose, itching, facial swelling and hives.
Of the reactions reported:

109(29.8 percent) involved red wine,

95 (26.0 percent) reported reactions to white wine

46 (12.6 percent) reported reactions to champagne

46 (12.6 percent) reported reactions to beer

42 (11.5%) Fortified wines, like sherry or port,

21 (5.7%) spirits, like brandy, whisky and vodka.121 (33.1 percent) respondents reported asthmatic responses to alcoholic beverages, with 97 of them indicating that asthma was the main adverse symptom experienced. Asthmatic reactions were generally rapid in onset and moderate in severity. Wine was the most frequent cause of asthmatic reactions, with 139 (37.7 percent) people experiencing reactions to it.

The mechanisms underlying wine-induced reactions are not known. Sulfite additives have been associated with triggering asthmatic responses. They are present in significant levels in most wines, but other ingredients in wine can also trigger an asthmatic response.

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