What is clean wine and will it help me avoid a hangover?
I sometimes hear friends talk about clean
wine
. What is it, and is it any good?
In reality, there is no such thing as clean wine. It is a phrase used by producers and marketers to appeal to a
generation of consumers
who want to consume pure products. But all wine contains alcohol, which is a drug, and therefore cannot really be called clean.
There is more to wine than fermented grape juice. The European Union permits more than 60 different additives and treatments. These are harmless and usually removed before the wine is bottled. The most common is sulphur, a preservative that has been used since Roman times. Some producers add rectified grape must to sweeten their wines.
If a wine is organic, it will be made from grapes grown without the use of synthetic herbicides, fertilisers, fungicides or pesticides. Copper sulphate sprays are permitted. Organic growers use less sulphur, but they are allowed to use yeast nutrients and fining agents. Biodynamic wine is made by similar but stricter regulations. If a wine is organic or biodynamic, it will have a logo on the back label. There is no legal definition of natural wine, but it is usually used to describe wine made in an environmentally friendly way, vinified with as few additives as possible.
READ MORE
Looking at claims made by 'clean' wine producers, it is worth remembering that most wine is low in carbohydrates and sugar, although the sweeter the wine, the more carbohydrates it will contain. Wine is gluten-free unless certain fining agents have been used. There has been much research into sulphur and histamines, and so far, the evidence shows that hangovers are caused by drinking excess alcohol.
Since last year, all wines must contain a list of ingredients and nutritional information either on the back label or by a URL or QR code. This includes allergens and intolerances.
If you want to drink 'cleaner' wine, I would suggest buying wines with an organic, biodynamic or sustainable certification on the back label.
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Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Ireland is becoming a country of moderate drinkers and voracious cocaine users
A major generational shift has occurred in Irish society without much fanfare. Alcohol consumption in Ireland has collapsed. A report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland published this month showed the average alcohol consumption per adult in Ireland fell 4.5 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023. The story over the course of two decades is much more profound. Since 2001, alcohol consumption per adult in Ireland fell by 34.3 per cent. Today, people in Ireland are drinking at average European levels (a good argument for reducing excise taxes). The Health Research Board 's 2024 report on alcohol showed Ireland is no longer a high alcohol consumption country by European Union or OECD standards. This is a remarkable shift, great news for public health and will have a positive knock-on effect for decades to come. The reasons suggested for this can come off as anecdotal or vague, but like any behavioural shift, there tend to be multiple factors at once. What we do know is that this is a trend led by younger generations, who are less likely to reach for the bottle compared with their older siblings and parents. The data consistently show this. A report by Red C in April – part of broader polling across 39 countries – showed that 21 per cent of 18- to 24-year olds drink often, compared with 31 per cent of all adults, and 48 per cent of older men. READ MORE Under-25s are more health conscious and therefore more mindful of the damage alcohol and hangovers cause to the body and mind. Alcohol is also as expensive as it has ever been in Ireland. Student life has changed due to the housing and rental crisis, with fewer students living independently as Ireland has regressed to a context more like to the early 20th century, with people living with their parents well into adulthood. Those in their teens and 20s are also more attuned to their mental and emotional wellbeing, and less likely than Generation X adults to hit the bottle to dissociate under the guise of 'relaxing' or reducing stress. There is less peer pressure among younger people to drink compared with the social culture older generations fostered within their peer groups, and less judgment around sobriety. The trend of alcohol-free months can also reduce people's consumption in the short and medium term, and sometimes embed lifelong moderation. Ultimately, younger people are more grown up and responsible when it comes to alcohol. For all the progress made around alcohol, there is a major youth public-health issue regarding cocaine use. This is not being addressed in anything approaching something effective All of this speaks to a sense of maturity, confidence and capacity to be grounded enough and able to exert at least some kind of self-control that was absent among older generations. What has also been happening is that more people are using therapy and other resources to address their mental health needs. According to the most recent St Patrick's Mental Health Stigma and Attitudes Survey, in 2024, 66 per cent of people who were experiencing mental health difficulties sought treatment, an increase of 10 per cent from 2023. A movement from self-medicating to self-care is a sign of collective emotional growth. It demonstrates a capacity for self-reflection and self-examination, as well as a reduction in stigma around seeking help for mental health challenges. But there is something else happening alongside the decline in alcohol consumption, and that's the rise in cocaine use. A 2023 United Nations report showed that Ireland is, remarkably, the joint-fourth highest consumer of cocaine globally. [ Cocaine cited as main drug in almost two-fifths of cases needing treatment Opens in new window ] Demographically, this is a younger person's issue. Among 15 to 34-year-olds, Ireland has the distinction of being home to the biggest consumers of cocaine in Europe. In 2024, the median age for those seeking treatment for powder cocaine use was 32 years old. Thirty-nine per cent were in employment, compared with 7 per cent of crack cocaine users in treatment. Heroin and opioid users in treatment skew older, with an average age of 45, in tune with the 'greying' of heroin and opioid users in Ireland, which has been the case for some time. In 2024, there were more people treated for problem drug use in Ireland than ever before, according to the Health Research Board . Cocaine was the most common drug used by those in treatment, up 7 per cent from 2023. Since 2017, there has been a 426 per cent increase in women receiving cocaine treatment. Figures for 2023 for people contacting the Health Service Executive 's drug and alcohol helpline also showed a record increase. Twenty-one per cent of calls were related to cocaine. 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Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Noise impacts on people living under Dublin Airport flight paths remain unaddressed by DAA, warns sleep expert
Proposed changes to Dublin Airport 's night-time operations, if approved, will bring significant health risks, particularly for people living under the flight path of its North Runway, that have not been adequately addressed by Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). That is the verdict of leading medical specialist on disrupted sleep, Dr John Garvey, director of the Sleep Laboratory at St Vincent's Hospital Dublin . A long-running dispute – centring on noise issues but also infrastructure development, regulatory interpretation and community impact relating to the airport – is about to come to a head as An Bord Pleanála (ABP) is due to give its final determination on night-time flights and noise levels. In reports submitted to ABP, Dr Garvey is highly critical of data supplied by the DAA, which runs the airport – notably on the likely impact of 'awakenings' caused by night flights. 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These risks are magnified in North Dublin, where elevated stroke incidence and cardiovascular vulnerability underscore the urgency of action,' Dr Garvey said in his most recent report on behalf of the St Margaret's The Ward Residents Group. Records show north Dublin already has a significantly higher stroke incidence rate compared to other European cities, he notes. Dr Garvey's submission followed a draft ABP decision last September on DAA's bid to alter planning restrictions which prevented the North Runway from being used for landings or take-offs between 11pm and 7am, and a 65-movement cap applying across the airport during the same time period. The board provisionally accepted DAA's bid to replace the cap on night-time aircraft movement with a noise quota system, but also introduced a movement limit of 13,000 flights per year, based on how such schemes operate in the UK. There is a High Court stay on this, pending a final decision. It also said the runway should be in use for take-offs and landings up to midnight only, and then for take-offs only between 6am and 8am. DAA had proposed using the North Runway from 6am to midnight and introducing a 'noise quota count system' from 11.30pm to 6am. It also committed to enhanced noise insulation grants for those most impacted. However, Dr Garvey said the absence of health impact data and detailed 'noise mapping' (indicating where noise from planes is concentrated) in the DAA's response to a request from ABP for further information 'highlights the inadequacy of the current approach'. Comprehensive mitigation measures informed by independent analysis and community needs were essential to safeguard public health, he said. 'A night-flight ban, coupled with movement caps and robust noise mitigation measures offers a proven strategy to balance economic and public health priorities.' iFrames are not supported on this page. Speaking to The Irish Times, Dr Garvey said the DAA addressed the issue of awakenings arising from air traffic movements at night across the Greater Dublin Area, but not in relation to specific areas in north Dublin – as would be carried out in other jurisdictions. In this case, it needed to be done in light of 'well-structured research' on increased vulnerability of people to stroke and other cardiovascular risks in the area, he said. He said he accepts research on sleep impacts in some cases show 'association' rather than more difficult-to-prove 'causation', but that there are unaddressed issues raised by residents and his analysis. In his first report, Dr Garvey detailed far-reaching consequences of sleep disruption and inadequate sleep including physical effects 'extending beyond the realm of mere physical fatigue', and on mental health – affecting children in particular. 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[ Dublin Airport operator launches noise information portal for residents Opens in new window ] Contrary to Prof Penzel's opinion, the probability of additional awakenings 'is an accepted and appropriate assessment tool', he said, as flights characterised by their intermittent and often unpredictable nature can disrupt sleep patterns, cause awakenings or alteration in sleep stages. A report by Bikerdike Allen Partners, also for the DAA, 'poorly presented the data on additional awakenings associated with the proposed changes and have misrepresented the population that will truly be affected by additional awakenings. The manner in which they have presented their data is unreferenced and not in keeping with European norms,' Dr Garvey wrote. Assuming that the affected population is uniformly healthy is unfounded, Dr Garvey submitted, with older people particularly vulnerable to lighter and fragmented sleep, predisposing them to awakenings and increased cardiovascular stress. 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Residents who had a reference point of no airport noise and no expectation of it affecting them 'might have initially likely framed their living environment as peaceful'. This perception shift 'has probably amplified some residents' sense of loss and annoyance', leading to mistrust between the DAA and local communities which, once present, can be almost impossible to remedy, he found. Residents contend the DAA has shown bad faith in what they call ignoring conditions of the original grant of permission. Dr Garvey said actions are urgently needed to minimise disruptions and associated health risks, including retaining a 13,000 movement cap backed by comprehensive noise mapping of areas where people are experiencing additional awakenings to align with international standards. He called for targeted health surveillance of high-risk populations including older people and those with chronic illnesses, with close monitoring for long-term effects of noise exposure. DAA is extending grants for affected residents, but mitigation measures such as soundproofing of schools and bedrooms are impractical and potentially counterproductive as they raise issues about indoor air quality, Dr Garvey said. 'Soundproofed bedrooms face issues of increased humidity, poor air circulation and rising indoor temperatures, all of which detrimentally affect sleep quality and overall health.' Implementation of a night-flight ban would significantly reduce sleep disruptions and protect vulnerable populations, he said. Such bans are increasingly applied to major international airports such as Frankfurt, Sydney and Zurich – and in this case will 'yield substantial public health benefits for the North Dublin region'. A DAA spokesman said that 'given a final planning decision on night-time flights is understood to be imminent, it would be inappropriate for DAA to comment directly on the submissions of a third party'. The spokesman said ABP's review of the noise regulator's 2022 decision about appropriate noise mitigations and runway operations at Dublin Airport included three separate public consultations. He cited the comment of DAA chief executive Kenny Jacobs when announcing a new noise information portal for the local community in April: 'We know that airport operations impact the community around us and we take that seriously. We have to strike a balance between operating a major international airport and ensuring Ireland has the connectivity it needs with the needs of those living close to the airport. That's always going to be difficult, but we are constantly working to minimise the impact and listen to community feedback.' Before the North Runway's opening, aircraft used to fly over heavily populated areas of Dublin city, he noted, adding that data from the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority found a significant reduction in people significantly impacted by noise between 2019 and 2023. 'Specifically, there was a 38 per cent reduction, which translates to 44,350 fewer people affected,' he added. 'Key factors driving this ... include fewer homes being overflown, more modern and quieter aircraft, and adoption of noise mitigation measures by DAA.' The authority has spent more than €20 million to date on noise mitigation, including insulation schemes and purchasing eligible local homes, the spokesman said. The announcement in January of an additional grant scheme meant up to 400 more homes would be offered a €30,000 grant for insulation. The spokesman highlighted research conducted by Red C for DAA which revealed strong local support for Dublin Airport, with 86 per cent of Fingal residents supporting further development of the airport to allow it to grow, while 'two in every three residents view Dublin Airport as a trustworthy neighbour'.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
What is clean wine and will it help me avoid a hangover?
I sometimes hear friends talk about clean wine . What is it, and is it any good? In reality, there is no such thing as clean wine. It is a phrase used by producers and marketers to appeal to a generation of consumers who want to consume pure products. But all wine contains alcohol, which is a drug, and therefore cannot really be called clean. There is more to wine than fermented grape juice. The European Union permits more than 60 different additives and treatments. These are harmless and usually removed before the wine is bottled. The most common is sulphur, a preservative that has been used since Roman times. Some producers add rectified grape must to sweeten their wines. If a wine is organic, it will be made from grapes grown without the use of synthetic herbicides, fertilisers, fungicides or pesticides. Copper sulphate sprays are permitted. Organic growers use less sulphur, but they are allowed to use yeast nutrients and fining agents. Biodynamic wine is made by similar but stricter regulations. If a wine is organic or biodynamic, it will have a logo on the back label. There is no legal definition of natural wine, but it is usually used to describe wine made in an environmentally friendly way, vinified with as few additives as possible. READ MORE Looking at claims made by 'clean' wine producers, it is worth remembering that most wine is low in carbohydrates and sugar, although the sweeter the wine, the more carbohydrates it will contain. Wine is gluten-free unless certain fining agents have been used. There has been much research into sulphur and histamines, and so far, the evidence shows that hangovers are caused by drinking excess alcohol. Since last year, all wines must contain a list of ingredients and nutritional information either on the back label or by a URL or QR code. This includes allergens and intolerances. If you want to drink 'cleaner' wine, I would suggest buying wines with an organic, biodynamic or sustainable certification on the back label.
