Suddenly I can’t drink alcohol

[skybluejo]

I have been quite a regular wine drinker until recently and used to enjoy a glass but I just can’t drink it, all of a sudden, I don’t like the taste and feel like I just can’t enjoy it or force it down.
I have been forced to stop drinking it by sudden unexplained aversion.

Has anyone else experienced this?

As it could be a reaction to sulphites you could try organic or some very expensive wine? I’ve not been able to even drink it since quite young - makes my jaw hurt, and feels weird as it goes down my throat and beyond! However, my parents were wine fans and had expensive ones, which when I tried a small amount to understand the difference actually didn’t cause these issues - though it would be awful to waste it on a wine heathen like me so didn’t have more.
I can however still drink white spirits with white mixers with no added weird or horrible effects - though certainly need to sleep more quickly and not as bothered whether I do or not in my late 50s - it’s reduced attractiveness over the decades and occasionally I am disappointed I can’t just go wild but generally guess it’s for the best to reduce chance of falling over!

Can be a consequence of catching COVID.

I’m 42 and haven’t had a drink in two years. Even half a glass would make me feel like shit the next day. Honestly though? I love not drinking and enjoy life far more without a carcinogenic poison in it! Plus perimenopause is way easier without booze.

Have you been sick recently? I had a virus about 20 years ago, mainly just really bad cold symptoms, but it seemed to have a dramatic impact on my tastebuds. Put me off proper chippy chips and Branston Pickle, amoung other things. I eventually got my taste for chips back (about 3 years later) but I haven’t liked Branston since (and I used to love it).

I can't drink wine, either. I'm 54 and am sooooo sick for a couple of days after having a glass or two. I'm okay with vodka though 😆

Yes! It’s weight loss injections for me too. One of the best side effects. I don’t like wine anyway but would have a G&T most nights and now really dislike the taste and the effects.
Now just have a cold beer occasionally.

I developed an allergy in peri, despite having enjoyed Prosecco for years. I don’t miss it or the hangovers.

It’s your age. I’m 55 now but I noticed big changes in my taste buds during my 40’s. Things I disliked for years I suddenly enjoyed and actually craved and things I’d always loved I now can’t stand the thought of.

Maybe but tbh the downsides outweigh the benefits most of the time so why bother?

I exercise regularly and alcohol makes that much harder. I would rather exercise than drink if push comes to shove. It also massively impacts my brain function and I really feel the impact at work after a surprisingly small amount.

I still have a glass of wine, sometimes two, when I am meeting friends and at special occasions and sometimes DP and I will have a glass on Saturday night. But it’s definitely become something which I consciously choose to do rather than by default. And I feel so much better for it.

Absolutely, you couldn't get me to stop the hrt either!

Interestingly a friend is on tamoxifen (which obviously works by blocking or limiting estrogen) and reports that her alcohol tolerance has actually gone up since she's been on it and says she has to drink a huge amount before she gets hangovers. Which makes me wonder whether there's a connection with estrogen in general and HRT specifically.

I'm sure aging impacts tolerance in both sexes to some extent but men's tolerance doesn't seem to have the same cliff edge as women.

I've recently had an aversion to alcohol. I've never been a big drinker but liked to enjoy a few on a night out. Turns out that my pancreas has packed up and not from alcohol abuse.

No HRT here at all. Now in menopause. I really miss a couple of glasses of a chilled crisp white wine 🥺 Appletiser doesn’t quite hit the same.

Oh no! I hope that can be treated? Were there other symptoms?

Could you be pregnant?

Declining or fluctuating oestrogen affects the liver's ability to metabolise alcohol so menopause can play a big part.

I think it was a perimenopause thing with me.
My migraines ramped up and I found I couldn't drink red wine (which had been my favourite tipple)
Then white wine and rose went the same way.
Then prosseco.
Now I'm down to just tolerating a couple of gins a week, and I sense that this will be going soon too.

It makes me sad. I've never been a big drinker, but I miss being able to have a drink if I wanted it.

Yep, just like walking down the street, driving a vehicle, going on a train, going to work. Anything is not safe.

I wish this would happen to me!

I am at a point where I rarely bother but do for occasions- I had to limit myself at a festival recently and guess I missed, or thought nostalgically, at least of the days I didn’t have to think not to! I dislike pop too so no alcohol, no coffee can be disappointing.
I discovered vodka/soda didn’t impact me much, or leave a hangover, when diagnosed coeliac and stuck on a raucous work do as to what to drink - no lager any more, and cider gets me similarly to wine.
I recognise this makes me seem very determined to find/use alcohol lol - but it’s just a suggestion if folk want a drink.
As said it’s rare now - fortunately as it is a bit dearer than ‘Alf a lager’!

I wonder if the quality of wine has gone down ? I used to be able to get a reasonably decent wine for a fiver and enjoy it with no after effects , but I’ve noticed the wine tastes bitter , seems more watery and gives me a headache the next day .

I couldn't drink in perimenopause but I can now post menopause. Kind of wish I couldn't tbh.

This! 100% this 😩

I went from being a moderate drinker to not being bothered about it and will have maybe a pint of beer or maybe a ginger and tonic once every few weeks or even months.
Im not sure what turned me off, maybe the menopause, maybe I just got bored, I don't know.

’Walking down the street, driving a vehicle, going on a train, going to work’ doesn’t usually put a toxic, psychoactive substance in your body.