Sulfites in Alcohol: Are There Any Drinks Without Sulfites?

Do you ever experience headaches, congestion, or other unpleasant reactions when drinking alcohol? If so, you may have a sensitivity to sulfites or histamines, common additives used in many alcoholic beverages. The good news is that with the right information, you can enjoy alcohol again without negative effects.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explain exactly what sulfites and histamines are, why they cause problems for some people, and most importantly, which types of alcohol you can safely drink to avoid reactions. We've done the research so you can relax and savor drinks that mesh with your body chemistry and sensitivities.

Whether you want to prevent headaches from red wine, congestion from beer, or other symptoms, we have the tips and recommendations you need to raise a glass without worry. Let's get started on determining your ideal alcohol-without-histamine cocktail!

What Are Sulfites In Alcohol?

Sulfites in alcohol - also known as sulphites - are sulfur dioxide compounds that occur naturally in certain ingredients used to make alcoholic drinks. Sulfites help "prevent the growth of the bacteria that make the drink go cloudy and literally turn the alcohol to vinegar."

Many people believe sulphites added to drinks like wine and beer causes headaches. While there are some studies that disprove this, many people still want to avoid excessive sulfites when they can.

In more serious situations, sulfites can cause allergy-like reactions or intolerances. Common symptoms include:

• wheezing, tightness in the chest (more likely in those with asthma)
• hay fever symptoms
• hives
• anaphylaxis (rare cases, the most severe type of allergic reaction)

Now that you have a better understanding of what it is, you probably want to know if your favorite alcoholic beverages have sulfite in them. Does vodka have sulfites? Does tequila have sulfites? Does whiskey have sulfites? Does beer have sulfites?

Below, we'll let you see for yourself with a handy chart.

Does Vodka, Tequila, Beer, or Whiskey Have Sulfites?

The bad news is that alcoholic beverages with sulfites can cause an allergic reaction. The good news? You can find alcohol without sulfites!

Below is a comprehensive list of different alcoholic drinks, their brands and whether they contain sulfites or not. It's important to note that labeling laws are different in each country. Some places have to have "sulfites included" if they surpass a certain percentage.

While many of the beers, lagers, and ales listed below are shown as "not containing sulfites" this means that there are no added sulfites included on the label. It's a good rule of thumb that beer does naturally include sulfites, but not enough to be included on the label like other drinks.

How Can I Find Out If A Drink Has Sulfites?

It's not always easy to tell if an alcoholic drink has sulfites in it, but thankfully new rules have been making it easier for consumers to find out.

The best place to check is the label. Many countries require "sulphites included" on the label. While they won't tell you how many sulphites, or to what percentage, it will at least give you an indication of if there are sulphites present.

Below are some examples of labels where sulphites are include.

While each label is different in its own way, they both include "sulphites" on the label. Even when we contacted manufacturers and companies directly, many wouldn't give a clear answer on how many sulphites are within their drinks, so it can be hard to get a clear number to compare.

What Alcoholic Drinks Have The Most Sulphites?

A good rule of thumb is to assume all wines and ciders have a percentage of sulphites in order to preserve the freshness of the drink.

Beer is a little bit confusing. There are naturally-occurring sulphites in beer to help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. However, most countries only require the label to include "has sulphites" if there is a high percentage (or added sulphites on top of the naturally occurring ones).

The chart above shows "No Added Sulphites" on many of the beer options. This doesn't mean that there are no sulfites present, but the level of sulfites isn't high enough that it would warrant it to be listed on the label.

While sulfites in beer are quite likely at a very low level, they may still be present as the yeast produces it during fermentation. If you are allergic to sulfites, or have a negative reaction to them, the level could still trigger a response.

Just remember this - drinks with a higher alcohol percentage like whisky, vodka and gin will likely be without sulphites.

After new regulations were passed, the EU recommends that a "acceptable daily intake" of sulfites is 42mg per day for a 60kg female. Having said that, a medium glass of white wine contains 26mg of sulphites on average. Typically, white wine has more sulfites than red wine, but both types are often triggered for people with sulphite intolerances.

Some organic wines will be lower in sulphites, and some will call themselves "sulphite-free", although sulfites occur naturally in wine. To be "sulphite-free" under EU regulations, a wine must contain less than 10mg per litre. In practice, few people suffer a reaction to less than 20mg of wine sulfites. The maximum permitted level is 200mg per liter.

Beer usually has naturally-occurring sulfites but few had added sulphites on top of that. If you check the label, you'll likely see allergen notices for things like barley, oats, wheat and gluten, but likely not sulphites. If there is a higher percentage of sulphites, it should be listed on the label (such as Tetley's Cask).

Final Thoughts on Sulfites in Alcohol

We hope this article gave you a better understanding of sulfites in alcohol - what they are, what they can do to your body, which alcohol drinks have them, and how to avoid them by learning what to look for on the label.

If you find that you're not allergic to sulfites - but rather, you have an alcohol allergy or Asian flush, we can help. Not only do we have the best Asian flush cure - our Asian glow pills. But, we also have a database of helpful resources on Asian glow patches, acetaldehyde foods to avoid, how to prevent red face when drinking, and sudden alcohol intolerance.