I rarely drink. I'm not bothered by alcohol. As a super-sensitive coeliac, I've been 'glutened' by wine a couple of times as oak casks are sealed with a flour paste that can leach into the wine and also gluten is often used in the clarifying process. Most coeliacs won't be affected as it's such a tiny amount of gluten and wine is advised as a safe drink, but my two experiences blew my tummy up so I looked 5 months gone and was very uncomfortable. So I tend to not bother now. It's not worth the pain or the internal damage gluten does.
I've never been a regular drinker though so don't feel I'm missing out.
I knew someone who'd go dry from January to Easter every year and would lose a stone in the process. My MIL would rather give up food than her beloved Chardonnay.
