Wine Before Liquor: Does It Make A Difference?

Wine before liquor saying

The saying (or rhyme) goes: wine before liquor, never sicker

So, it’s pretty clear what the saying is trying to say. If you drink wine before liquor, you’re going to feel crappy. You may also interpret this as wine before liquor will give you a bad hangover.

But is there any truth to this rhyme? Or is it just another alcohol-related myth that’s been passed down from generation to generation?

To find out, we need to go over the difference between the two types of alcohol to see if mixing them causes problems.

Difference between wine and liquor

Wine is made by fermenting grapes. After this, some wines are aged in barrels.

On the other hand, liquor is made from various types of grain. For example, whiskey is made from barley (and is known to cause the worst hangovers), vodka is made from corn or rye, and tequila is made from the blue agave plant, which incidentally leads people to believe that tequila doesn't cause hangovers. That said, there are several different grains that are used to make these liquours.

The main ingredient in wine and liquor is alcohol. Technically called ethanol. The reason why they taste vastly different is because of the grape or grain used to make them and because of congeners.

Congeners are compounds that are formed during the fermentation and maturation process of wines and liquor. Congeners also contribute to the taste and aroma of these drinks.

So, with the basics out the way, let’s get into whether you should drink wine before or after liquor.

Should you drink wine before or after liquor?

The quick answer to this question is, that it makes no difference.

At the end of the day, they are both types of alcohol and there is nothing in the two that “reacts”.

A research group from Cambridge even tested whether mixing different kinds of alcohol causes problems. (1) A study involving 90 adults found no significant difference in hangover severity whether participants drank beer before wine or vice versa. The study confirmed that overall alcohol intake and individual tolerance levels were more predictive of hangover symptoms.

In fairness, the study was carried out with beer and wine only. However, the underlying principles stay the same.

In summary: Don’t stress about which way round you drink wine or liquor because it doesn’t make a difference!

Wine before liquor and hangovers

The saying “wine before liquor, never sicker” comes down to whether mixing these drinks causes worse hangovers.

And the answer is, the mixing of the two drinks is not the problem. Ultimately, the amount of alcohol you’re drinking is all that matters.

Also if you’re planning to mix these drinks, the chances are you’re having a big night out. In most cases, starting with wine early on and then moving on to the hard stuff.

So the likelihood is that whoever came up with the saying, mistakenly thought that the reason for their hangover was because he or she drank wine before liquor. Not the fact that they had five glasses of wine and eight tequila shots.

Genetics also play a crucial role in how individuals experience hangovers. Some people are more susceptible to hangovers regardless of the type or amount of alcohol they consume. Women generally experience worse hangovers due to differences in their body composition and hormone levels, which affect how they metabolize alcohol. 

The other thing to consider is that red wine and darker colored liquor usually cause worse hangovers anyway. And you need much less of each to wake up with a hangover compared to lighter-colored drinks.

Why?

It’s all because of congeners. We mentioned earlier that congeners are responsible for some of the taste and aroma of your drinks. Unfortunately, they make certain types of hangovers a lot worse too. 

Alcohol acts as a diuretic, leading to dehydration, which exacerbates your hangover symptoms, but proper hydration can alleviate some of these effects.

Can you mix liquor and wine?

In a similar fashion, mixing wine and liquor on a night out shouldn’t cause any problems.

The only thing that matters is how much of each you’re drinking.

Does drinking wine before liquor make you sick?

You’ve probably guessed the answer to this question already. Seeing as there is no interaction between wine and liquor, it shouldn’t make you sick.

That said, if you drink enough, of course, you’ll feel sick.

It’s especially the case if you’re having wine with dinner and are feeling full. Moving onto liquor may not sit well in your stomach because you’re stomach is full.

It doesn’t mean that the wine and liquor are the cause of you feeling sick. Rather the fact that you’re stomach is struggling to deal with all the food and liquid.

To help mitigate hangover symptoms, drink water between your alcoholic beverages; consume high-protein, high-fiber foods; and limit yourself to just two alcoholic drinks. This will help your body slow the alcohol absorption and maintain your hydration.

Wine before liquor – Takeaway points

That brings us to the end of our look into the saying “wine before liquor, never sicker”.

And you may be pleased to hear that it doesn’t have any truth to it. Whether you want to drink wine before or after liquor doesn’t make a difference.

Mixing the two shouldn’t make you sick and they don’t interact. So, the famous rhyme that you’ve heard from others doesn’t actually have any scientific basis.

The caveat to that is the amount of alcohol you’re drinking. If you’ve had several glasses of wine and are now moving on to liquor, then clearly, there is a chance you’ll feel sick.

But that’s not because of the mixing of wine and liquor per se. Rather the volume of alcohol you’re drinking. Consider non-alcoholic alternatives like de-alcoholized wine for an experience that’s still enjoyable but doesn’t have the same adverse effects.

On that note, check out our article about wine hangovers and how to beat them.