Weird reaction after drinking alcohol

[pentangles]

I've noticed this for a while now, it can be slight or quite horrible, and seems to have grown worse as I age.

Whenever I drink alcohol, usually once per week, it seems to directly upset my gut. I don't mean the typical runs or anything, just a very inflamed feeling all over and low level pain. Decided not to do it for a few weeks and returned to it last Thursday evening, so was able to monitor the effect. Within one hour I felt blown up and sore, from most of my belly area to the rest of my torso.
Day after even worse, even though no hangover.

I often get a really increased appetite within hours of drinking booze, so it is the only time I will dabble with junk food - this time two small packets of those processed flavoured noodles, lol.
By the evening of the next day all of my soft tissues hurt, like I have been kicked by a horse.

I don't get typical reactions such as headache, flushing or other hangover favourites.

Some more details : I am 50, in meno, slim, average fitness, no other known health issues, so relatively ok. I am diagnosed with mild IBS, and have heard meno can exacerbate reactions to booze. No idea if this is true though. I have no idea if there is something I am intolerant to and wouldn't know how to find out.
It is worth mentioning that I am usually quite mindful about my body and feel much better when I practice yoga at home regularly, and do some moderate strength and cardio. I eat well generally and have decent skin/hair. But one episode of drinking can knock me completely off track.

Is it time to just quit? If I count the units I might have once per week, it will be roughly 5-6, so not the maximum, but I am wondering if any at all is just bad for me now.

I’m the same. 51, in perimenopause and have a history of IBS.

I just cannot tolerate alcohol at all these days. I get that awful feeling in my guts (and diarrhoea) after drinking even one alcoholic drink. It’s quite common in menopause to suffer adverse reactions to alcohol. I haven’t had a drink now for 6 years (don’t miss it either).

On a side note, peri has very much exacerbated my gut issues. I have recently tested positive for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Perimenopause gave me horrendous reactions to alcohol. Never drunk since. Upside is you save money, downside you're always the driver.

Got to admit, I wouldn't miss it. I suppose that's one good thing.
But the symptoms seem different to other people's when I google it.

I have discomfort in what seems to be soft tissues, like everywhere, especially in my gut and upper body. Like sore to touch, then completely gone the next day. It is like having been run over!
One glass and I am ok, but anything remotely substantial like half a bottle of wine or 3 G&T's and there it is.

Most people I know drink a shit ton, like every day or at least most nights and never mention even a slight issue. I don't wish to emulate them, of course, but it makes me wonder if people often ignore side effects or minimise them.