Gaby
Women often complain about what’s called “white wine rage.” There are plenty of stories about people turning into monsters after just a few glasses of Chardonnay. But men aren’t immune to those transformations.
Other effects of drinking white wine can include flirtatiousness, heightened emotions, talkativeness, and fatigue. But it frequently triggers outbursts of anger.
Georgia Foster, a clinical hypnotherapist from Melbourne, Australia, says this issue affects men and women alike. Foster adds that scientists still don’t understand the cause of “white wine rage.” Why does this seemingly light alcohol sneakily alter behavior? For a long time, some researchers blamed sulfites, which are used to preserve wine. Others pointed to white wine’s higher sugar content compared with red.
What are the other theories?
Experts say white wine is easier to drink, and that ease may be at the root of some people losing control.
Foster says that because white wine is so drinkable, it’s stereotypically seen as a “feminine” beverage. As a result, women often bear the brunt of its effects.
Foster says part of the problem is social pressure to drink white wine. Many of her patients report they don’t always want to drink, but social norms push them to have a glass. An inner voice might say, “You’re more interesting after a few glasses of white” or “People will think you’re boring if you don’t drink.” Those thoughts can lead people to drink even when they don’t want to.
Wine, of course, relaxes and boosts confidence. But it can also lead to behavior that would be unacceptable when sober.
Easy drinking — quick intoxication
Other reasons women may suffer more from wine are biological. Women generally have lower body mass, get drunk faster, and absorb alcohol more readily, the Daily Mail reports.
Sobriety coach Kristi Osborn in London says she quit drinking wine after she started feeling exhausted, impatient, and constantly arguing with her husband.
She notes that society is more tolerant of wine than of hard liquor. For instance, you can take your mom to a cultural event with a glass of white wine, but not with gin.
Osborn says women often drink white wine to relieve stress, but it doesn’t always have that effect. Instead, it can impair judgment, slow decision-making, and harm memory.
The effects of alcohol from sparkling white wines are felt much more quickly because the carbon dioxide in the bubbles speeds absorption.
Red wine isn’t perfect either. British wine expert Joan Kukis says it often leads to fatigue, possibly because red wine contains melatonin, the hormone that promotes deep sleep. Red wine also typically has a higher alcohol content than white.
The root of the problem — a lack of moderation
Roger Corder, a professor of experimental therapy at the London School of Medicine, is reluctant to blame sulfites for “white wine rage.” As mentioned earlier, sulfites are used to preserve the drink and inhibit bacteria and yeast. The issue is that white wine contains fewer natural protective antioxidants than red.
Corder says sulfites don’t affect how quickly someone becomes intoxicated or change their behavior. He also rejects the idea that white wine’s sugar could cause explosive anger—otherwise people would be furious after a glass of orange juice, which has even more sugar.
Corder suggests aggression arises when people lose track of how many drinks they’ve had. He believes most problems stem from that, so it’s essential to reassess drinking norms, including those for white wine.
