Alcohol and Celiac Disease

Wikipedia has the following advice, which works for me: 'Almost all beers are brewed with barley (and sometimes wheat), and hence are unsafe for the gluten-avoider to drink. Sorghum and buckwheat based beers are available, but remain very much a specialty product. Most specialists now consider all distilled forms of alcohol safe to drink, provided no colourings or other additives have been added, as they might include gluten ingredients. Wine, sherry, port, cider, rum, tequila, bourbon and vermouth are all probably safe. Liqueurs and pre-mixed drinks should be examined carefully for gluten-derived ingredients. Some gluten free beers are available.' Nothing here would forbid vodka or rum - but proceed with caution, of course.

At some point I remember hearing that distilled alcohols were fine for celiacs, but I have found it ain't true. I tried some of my partner's scotch and ended up with fever blisters all around my mouth as well as more of the usual symptoms.

Vodka, unless they say it is all from potatoes, is suspect.

Rum is my friend. Luckily I have always liked rum. Tequila may be okay, too. Liquors could be tricky because their base may be grain - Grand Marnier is a brandy, so that should be OK.

Good luck.

I used to be able to tolerate alcohol, but now within 24 hours after drinking it, I throw up. I never used to do that. Its awful. My body is completely unable to digest it.

Hi Randi! You should try wine...I drink mostly red but occasionally white. If I'm out and not sure (or too embarrassed to ask) then I know I'm safe with wine. My true love is a really good frozen margarita, but you have to ask what's in the mix. Lime juice and sugar with any tequila make a great rita!

Many vodkas, except for 100% potato vodka may be cut with grain - your small intestine might not like that too much:-( Chopin Vodka seems to be the best one.

As a beer lover turned admirer from afar, I know what you are going through. BevMo carries a sorghum beer by Anheuser-Busch called Redbridge. It has a taste different than what you are probably used to but the fact that it comes in that dark brown glass bottle helps fill that void.

I found that hard cider is really good. It's just made from fermented apples, there are many bands but Woodchuck being the best. These are often more available at bars than the select gluten-free brew.

I just tried K Draft Cider the other day and I found it quite good, it has a taste that slightly [at least to me] resembles that of beer, of course it's not the same as beer, but it is definitely worth trying, it has a higher alcohol content though, even my husband liked it.

My partner and I have been diagnosed celiac for over 2 years. Whenever I'm exposed to any amount of gluten in my food I am 'blessed' with the dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) rash, so there is NO mistaking my reaction! However, I drink gin (usually Beefeater or Bomba) and vodka (usually Gray Goose or Skyy) and never have a reaction. The ADA has determined that the distillation process does something to the gluten protein that renders it 'non-toxic' to celiacs, and there are even a few articles here on celiac.com that attest to the 'safety' of drinking alcohol where gluten is concerned. Two caveats: Some people don't seem to tolerate gin or vodka who are celiac so you might have to do the trial and error and also I'd suggest avoiding the flavored alcohol (I have had reactions to citrus flavored vodka). For beer drinkers, Redbridge is a very good gluten-free beer.

Hey, I was having the same problem, I am 23 and very much like to have a drink now and then, I have found that Bacardi (rum) and diet coke, don't affect the gluten free people!

I am an undiagnosed celiac following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which is Gluten Free and allows certain alcohol such as wines with a zero sugar rating. I dilute my wine with water and add a saccharin tablet. I also do OK with a martini or Margarita that is only tequila and lime, no liqueur. I can have gin, scotch, rye, bourbon and vodka but rarely have anything but the wine.

I really am a rare bird as after eight years on The Specific carbohydrate Diet, I am rarely bored with my food or missing what's restrictive. At seventy seven I look much younger, take no medications and work out. Wish I had been in this good state before becoming celiac. The disease actually has a 'flip' side that includes positives.

I'm not a full blow Celiac but am allergic to Wheat Gluten. I am able to drink Miller Lite and Corona Lite and it doesn't bother me. Wines make me itch. Tequila made from cactus is good. The thing to remember is that it's not what they process out of the booze, but what they add back in.

I am a celiac and was a bartender for 9 years. I think that it is important to stick to the 100% potato vodkas, rum and 100% agave tequilas for celiacs. Hard Cider, Sake and wine are all good options. Beware of mixed drinks (triple sec) is not your friend. If you enjoy margaritas ask for Grand Manier instead of triple sec.

I hope this helps. There is nothing worse than a hangover on top of a bad reaction due to an allergy.Good luck!!!

My clinic specializes in treating patients with gluten intolerance and celiac. Distilled alcohols do not contain gluten. Beer is not distilled and therefore not okay unless it's one of the newer gluten-free varieties that recently came on the market. The fact that some celiacs don't respond well to certain liquors has more to do with alcohol itself, perhaps their liver function or the presence of infection in their small intestines. But it isn't due to the presence of gluten regardless of whether the alcohol is made from a grain.

Hope this helps.

I am appalled to find that after I drank 1 pint of cider that I was over the safe drink driving limit after being breathalised by the police. I am now awaiting a court hearing and the loss of my driving license. Is there a different limit for the amount of alcohol a person with ceoliacs can safely consume and drive to that of a normal person?

I just found out today that I'm a Celiac and enjoy my Vodka martini's what are the best ones? I'm willing to make the changes in my diet to be healthier but giving up martini's will have to wait.

I'm another newcomer to world of Celiacs. I looking for advise for mixed drinks while on vacation. I love Daquiries & Margaritas, but I'm not sure how they are mixed when when I'm out. Do they use mixes, and do they contain Gluten?? I'm hoping a bartender out there good help with information.

I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, I hate not being able to eat out, especially when I have a date.

Why does it have to be so hard, can't drink, can't eat like a normal individual, it's too embarrassing, I feel like going back to gluten.

Help please!

To James, I feel the same way you do. I've been doing this for about 4 months now and for the first two months I was just so thrilled to be feeling better, I didn't think about the quality of life change involved in not being able to just eat out whenever I want without planning ahead, etc. Also to Miki, I am the same way - I used to be able to drink any kind of alcohol with no problem but now whenever I drink, the next day I have this sweeping depressed feeling - it's so awful and consistent, I'm considering giving up alcohol entirely. Oh, my poor social life!!

To all: I am a new comer to the gluten-free world. I have always had an active social life and I do like my booze. I am sad and depressed that I can no longer go out and enjoy my 'old life'. I am scared to death to go out to eat. I have been gluten-free for less than a month, and it's an adjustment that's not an easy one. I thought it would be simple, and I continue to stay optimistic, but this weekend it hit me hard when I went to a housewarming party for a friend, and realized that there was nothing I could eat or drink there!!! It kinda sucked and I felt alienated being there. I guess it's something I have to deal with. I had Malibu Rum and Coke Friday night and got an excruciating migrane, so I guess that one's out too! For me it's trial and error with the booze, but I'm about to call it quits all together. I am feeling better, and well, if that means i have to stop drinking, well, I guess I will be the sober one! Yeah it sucks, but what other option do I have...HELP!!!!

Just found out that I have celiac. I don't know about this disease but I guess I have to learn fast. I love to have my drinks and go out to eat but its become more difficult. That advised shared helps. Thank you.

I have had a gluten intolerance for over 2 years and have never heard that I could not drink any type of liquor. I had read if it is distilled it's fine. then today I went to the liquor store and began talking to an employee who has a friend with celiac only for her to tell me I can't have vodka (unless its potato)...I'm really confused and cannot give up my drinks (my faves are vodka and whiskey).

It is a very interesting and informative blog which I like most.

I have been a celiac for 1 1/2 years, and have dermatitis herpetiformis. It really does suck at first but it does get better. There are a lot of foods out there you can eat. Outback Steakhouse has a gluten free menu so you don't have to be embarrassed when you go out on a date. I really enjoy Malibu and coke. If I am out with some friends I do trial and error. Hopefully this helps. It really helps to just to find somebody that will listen to you for a couple of months complain. Because to you this is a life changing disease. Good luck

I have been a celiac for almost a year now. I have found that eating and drinking out is extremely difficult but am functioning okay. Outback, Carrabas, Bonefish, Lee Roy Selmon's and a few others are great options for eating out that might be in your area. In regards to alcohol, all Vodka is not okay. Ketel One, Grey Goose and many other Vodka are distilled with wheat....so be careful. Most vodkas tell you what they are distilled from. Ciroc is a Vodka distilled from grapes and Chopin from potatoes so those are safe. Just wanted to give some of you a heads up. Good luck on your journey.