What You Should Be Drinking At Happy Hour If You Have Pollen Allergies

Spring is the season of optimism and re-birth, but it’s also, unfortunately, the season of endless sneezing. If you suffer from pollen allergies it’s worth noting that your alcoholic beverage of choice could be exacerbating your symptoms, too.

Before you head to the nearest beer garden to soak up the first warmth of spring, heed this warning from Asthma UK: the naturally occurring histamines in certain boozy beverages can worsen allergic reactions.

Histamines are chemical compounds created by the body in response to an allergen. Their goal is to remove whatever it is that triggered your immune system, which is why people with pollen allergies get watery eyes and a stuffy nose this time of year. That’s their body’s attempt to clear its system.

Gin is less likely to trigger allergy symptoms

Interestingly, some foods and drinks also contain histamines, and when consumed they induce allergy symptoms in sufferers. Asthmatics occasionally find that certain drinks cause an attack, and those with pollen allergies might experience respiratory issues including wheezing, a stuffy or runny nose, and teary eyes.

Red wine is the number one culprit with the highest histamine content, but beer, alcoholic cider and white wine can be triggering as well. Your best bet is to pick clear or light colored liquors like gin, vodka and tequila, which tend to contain less of the compound. They also happen to be on the lighter end of the caloric scale, too, which is ideal if you’re determined to get in shape before summer arrives.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.