Why do I sneeze when I drink alcohol?

[multitasker]

It happens when I have one or two drinks,wine or spirits. And I get a conjested nose. I don't recall it being a problem years ago. I don't drink that much and I suppose if it was some sort of allergy I could give it up altogether. Any ideas?

DO you get red cheeks as well?

My mother does this, but not always (and she is a bit weird as she does it with newsprint too).

It can be an allergy to sulphites which are often in wine.

Actually yes I do get quite flushed

my mother also sneezes with newsprint. It took us ages to realise what it was.

I wonder if it's rosacea, when the blood vessels dilate. I get red and sometimes very flushed with alcohol, and in older people it can cause the swollen nose look.

I don't know for certain btw, it's just a theory me and my friend discussed.

I've just googled rosacea and alcohol and there is a link. Alcohol doesn't cause rosacea but it causes the flare ups. Even with one sip of alcohol I can get very purple and I can never drink more then one glass of wine.

It effects the nose as well and the blood vessels and maybe that's what causes the sneezing.

My mother cannot drink alcohol either.

Crikey! at the risk of a swollen (already big) nose I think its time to become t-total...

Thanks for that Belgo, I think that rosacea must be it.

Well I would guess that particles of alcohol probably evaporate up your nose when it enters your mouth - so, that would be the direct cause and effect, but I don't know what it is in them that would cause the sneezing itself.

Go and see your doctor, I should see mine as well.

Newsprint! Could it be just 'bad news' that causes it? I found I sneezed all through the Cuban missile crises ;-)

Started happening to me about a year ago after just one drink...has really ruined having a drink for me and I have pretty much given up. I don't get any other symptoms.. just sneezing and congested/runny nose

Same here - spirits ok but beer and wine gave me awful sneezing and congestion after a glass or two. I’ve given up drinking them both as it was just too annoying.

I can't drink wine before my period. Any other time is fine but just when I could do with a glass, I get all the swollen nasal passages and thick throat. Ugh