Why Do Some Alcohols Cause Worse Headaches? Decoding Congeners, Histamines, and More

January 7, 2026 •

4 min read

A 2021 study revealed that darker liquors like bourbon cause significantly more severe hangovers, including headaches, than clear spirits like vodka. This sheds light on the primary reasons behind the unpleasant phenomenon and helps explain why do some alcohols cause worse headaches than others.

Quick Summary

Several factors contribute to alcohol-induced headaches, including congeners in darker drinks, natural histamines, dehydration, and individual genetic sensitivities. The severity can vary by beverage type and a person's biology.

Key Points

Congeners are a key factor: Darker alcohols like red wine, whiskey, and brandy contain higher levels of congeners, byproducts of fermentation that can worsen hangover symptoms and headaches.
Histamine intolerance can cause headaches: Some people are sensitive to histamines, which are found in high concentrations in red wine and other fermented products, triggering allergic-like reactions including headaches.
Dehydration plays a major role: All alcohol is a diuretic, causing the body to lose fluids. This dehydration, and the subsequent contraction of brain tissue, is a leading cause of headache.
Genetics influence your tolerance: Individuals with genetic predispositions, particularly those with a deficiency in the ALDH2 enzyme, metabolize alcohol less efficiently, leading to toxic buildup and severe headaches.
Lighter spirits typically cause fewer issues: Clear spirits such as vodka and gin have lower congener levels, making them a less likely source of a hangover headache compared to their darker counterparts.
Sulfite sensitivity is often a myth: While sulfites can cause allergic reactions in some asthmatics, they are unlikely to be the sole cause of wine-induced headaches for most people.

Understanding the Culprits Behind Your Alcohol Headache

Experiencing a pounding head after a night out is a common misery, but the headache's intensity can change drastically depending on what you drank. While the ethanol in all alcoholic beverages is the primary intoxicant, a range of other compounds and physiological effects are responsible for why do some alcohols cause worse headaches than others. This deep dive explores the key factors at play, from fermentation byproducts to individual tolerances.

Congeners: The Darker the Drink, the Heavier the Head?

Congeners are minor chemical byproducts produced during the fermentation and aging process of alcoholic beverages. They are responsible for a drink's distinctive aroma, color, and flavor. Unfortunately, research has repeatedly shown a correlation between higher congener content and more severe hangover symptoms, including headaches.

What are congeners and where are they found?

Higher Congener Drinks: Darker liquors like whiskey, brandy, and dark rum are particularly high in congeners. Red wine is also noted for its high congener levels.
Lower Congener Drinks: Clear spirits such as vodka, gin, and white rum typically have very low congener concentrations, which may lead to less severe hangovers for many people.
The Bourbon vs. Vodka Experiment: A study involving participants who drank either vodka or bourbon found that a significantly higher percentage of bourbon drinkers reported a next-day hangover compared to vodka drinkers. This strongly suggests that congeners intensify the negative effects of alcohol.

Histamines and Sulfites: Allergic Reactions in a Bottle

For a subset of the population, sensitivities to naturally occurring compounds in certain drinks, rather than just the alcohol or congeners, can trigger headaches.

The Histamine Connection

Histamines are chemicals produced by the immune system, but they are also found in fermented foods and beverages. For individuals with a histamine intolerance, consuming histamine-rich drinks can trigger symptoms that mimic an allergic reaction, including headaches.

Red Wine: Red wine is infamous for causing immediate headaches in some people, largely due to its significantly higher histamine content compared to white wine.
Beer and Aged Products: Certain beers, particularly dark ones, and other aged alcohols like port can also contain elevated levels of histamines.

The Sulfite Debate

Sulfites are preservatives used in winemaking to prevent spoilage and bacterial growth. While many blame sulfites for wine headaches, the evidence is not conclusive. In reality, many foods contain more sulfites than wine, and true sulfite sensitivity reactions are more often respiratory than headache-related. For most, it is the combination of other factors, not just sulfites, that leads to discomfort.

The Role of Dehydration and Blood Sugar

Beyond the specific components of a drink, the general physiological effects of alcohol are powerful headache drivers.

Dehydration is a Major Factor

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes the body to lose more fluid through urination. This leads to dehydration, a well-known cause of headaches. The mild dehydration that follows a night of drinking can cause the brain to shrink temporarily, pulling on the surrounding membranes and causing pain. Staying hydrated with water alongside alcoholic drinks is a key strategy for prevention.

Disruptions in Blood Sugar

Alcohol consumption, especially on an empty stomach, can lead to a drop in blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar can cause symptoms like fatigue, shakiness, and headaches. Eating before and during drinking helps stabilize blood sugar and can mitigate this effect.

Individual Genetics and Sensitivity

Finally, a person's individual genetic makeup and health can profoundly influence how they react to different types of alcohol.

Genetic Intolerance

Some people, particularly those of East Asian descent, have a genetic variant that affects the body's ability to properly metabolize alcohol. This leads to an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct, which can cause facial flushing and severe headaches.

The Migraine Connection

Individuals who are already prone to migraines are more likely to experience alcohol-induced headaches. For them, even small amounts of alcohol can be a potent trigger due to its effects on blood vessels and brain chemicals.

Comparison of Alcohol Types and Headache Potential


Alcohol Type	Congeners	Histamines	Sulfites	Headache Potential	Notes
Red Wine	High	High	Varies	High	High tannin and histamine content often trigger severe headaches in sensitive individuals.
White Wine	Low	Low	Higher	Moderate	Fewer histamines than red wine, but higher sulfite content can be a factor for some.
Brandy & Whiskey	High	Low	Low	High	Dark color indicates high congener content, which is strongly linked to worse hangovers and headaches.
Vodka & Gin	Very Low	Low	Low	Low	The lowest levels of congeners and other irritants, making them a less likely headache trigger.
Beer (Dark)	Moderate	High	Varies	Moderate-High	Can contain both congeners and histamines, particularly dark varieties.

Conclusion: Navigating Your Drinks to Avoid the Pain

The reason behind a post-drink headache is a complex interplay of factors, from the specific chemical makeup of the beverage to your body's unique genetic and physiological responses. For many, the high congener and histamine content of darker liquors and red wine is the primary cause of more intense headaches. Dehydration and fluctuating blood sugar levels contribute to the misery regardless of the drink, while individual sensitivities can make even small amounts of alcohol problematic. By understanding these different mechanisms, you can make more informed choices about your drinks. Paying attention to what you consume and how your body reacts is a crucial step toward preventing the pain. If you are particularly susceptible to headaches from alcohol, a simple strategy of moderation, staying hydrated, and choosing lighter spirits is your best defense. For those with severe reactions, avoidance of known triggers is the only surefire prevention. For further information on managing hangovers, including headaches, see the expert resources available at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Congeners are chemical byproducts of fermentation that are present in varying amounts in alcoholic drinks. High congener levels, especially in darker liquors, are linked to more severe hangovers and headaches because they are believed to be more toxic to the body.

For many, yes. Red wine generally contains much higher levels of histamines, which can trigger headaches in sensitive individuals. It also has more tannins, which can contribute to headaches for some.

This is largely a myth. True sulfite sensitivity is rare and usually manifests as respiratory issues, not headaches. Wine headaches are more likely caused by histamines, congeners, or other factors.

Alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing urination and causing your body to lose fluids. This dehydration can cause the brain to temporarily shrink, pulling away from the skull and triggering a headache.

Yes. For some people, particularly those with genetic intolerances, migraines, or heightened sensitivities, even one or two drinks can trigger an immediate headache or a delayed one the next morning.

In many cases, yes. Clear spirits like vodka and gin contain very low levels of congeners compared to darker liquors. This often leads to less severe hangovers and fewer headaches for most people.

Alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition where the body cannot efficiently break down alcohol's toxic byproducts. This can lead to a buildup of acetaldehyde, causing symptoms like flushing, nausea, and severe headaches, even with minimal alcohol intake.