Does mulled wine get you drunk faster?
For many, mulled wine is as much a part of the Advent season as gingerbread or roasted almonds. Every year, the hot drink enjoys great popularity at Christmas markets - and is known for its intoxicating effect. But does mulled wine really get you drunk so quickly?
There you are, standing among the brightly lit stalls at the Christmas market, the scent of cloves, cinnamon and star anise in your nose. Just a few sips from the steaming mug of mulled wine and a pleasantly warm feeling flows through your chest. But the popular Advent drink not only warms you up, it also gets into your head - supposedly faster than conventional wine. But is that true?
"Mulled wine actually gets you drunk faster," confirms Andreas Stöver, pharmacist and research associate at the LMU Medical Institute of Forensic Medicine in Munich, in an interview with ntv.de. The hot drink is absorbed more quickly by the human body than other alcoholic drinks. The rapid absorption leads to a faster increase in blood alcohol concentration and, at least in the short term, to a stronger alcohol effect, according to the expert.
Temperature makes the difference
The temperature of the wine is decisive for the rapid buzz. The warmth causes the blood vessels in the body to dilate. This allows the alcohol to enter the bloodstream via the mucous membranes in the mouth. Warm mulled wine is also more easily absorbed by the intestines. While the stomach first has to warm cold food and drinks to body temperature, the mulled wine passes directly into the small intestine and thus into the bloodstream more quickly. The result: intoxication at record speed.
According to Stöver, filling the stomach also plays a significant role. "An empty stomach increases the contact surface between the alcohol and the stomach lining. It also leads to faster onward transportation of the alcohol to the small intestine, its main absorption site". This is why alcohol has the strongest effect on an empty stomach.
The high sugar content of mulled wine plays a rather subordinate role in the absorption of alcohol. The pleasant sweetness mainly leads to people drinking faster or even more than usual. "The higher sugar concentration could lead to irritation of the stomach lining and thus accelerate the absorption of alcohol," explains Stöver. On the other hand, scientific studies have shown that a higher sugar content can also delay the onward transport of alcohol from the stomach to the small intestine.
What helps against a mulled wine hangover?
The joys of the evening before are soon followed by a rude awakening: A headache and nausea the next morning. Stöver recommends the so-called "intermediate water" as a suitable hangover prophylaxis. A glass of water after every mulled wine reduces the rapid build-up of alcohol in the blood and the risk of dehydration. Sufficient water intake should also be ensured on the following day.
According to Stöver, electrolyte solutions, which are otherwise regularly used for diarrhea, can also be helpful. These would help to restore the water and electrolyte balance. As an alternative home remedy, the pharmacist advises broth and salt sticks in combination with small amounts of sugary drinks.
Incidentally, scientists also recommend a simple trick for people who want to reduce their alcohol consumption. According to one study, those who remind themselves of the increasing risk of cancer with every alcoholic drink will successfully reduce their consumption. If you prefer to think about contemplation at the Christmas market and don't want to count glasses, you can of course also reach for cocoa or punch - without a shot, of course.
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After enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Christmas market, you find yourself swaying slightly as you leave, the effects of the mulled wine becoming more apparent. The question arises: does the popularity of mulled wine during the holiday season stem from its fast-acting intoxication properties, as suggested by pharmacist Andreas Stöver? Moreover, as the new year approaches, you ponder over potential hangover remedies, as recommended by Stöver, such as drinking water throughout the evening and increasing water and electrolyte intake the next day. Lastly, in an attempt to reduce alcohol consumption, you might consider reminders of health risks with each drink, as suggested by a study.
Source: www.ntv.de
