The Christmas markets in the country have recently opened their doors.
And for many people, this also marks the beginning of mulled wine season. Hearty foods such as hot sausage and sweet treats such as roasted almonds are the order of the day, and most visitors to Christmas markets naturally also love to wash it down with this alcoholic hot drink.
Whether red or white or even with a shot of something stronger – it’s simply great to drink in company. And the drink surely can’t be that unhealthy, can it?
More alcohol than you might think
Mulled wine usually contains between 8.8% and 13.1% alcohol by volume. If you drink a large cup of it, a serving of 250ml or so, that’s about 18g of pure alcohol; 200ml contains around 14 to 15g.
In terms of alcohol content, mulled wine is therefore on a par with normal wine and significantly stronger than beer.
The reason you hardly notice the alcohol in mulled wine is the sugar. Many recipes contain plenty of sweetness to make the mulled wine taste smoother and less sour.
According to estimates, a 200ml cup often contains 20 to 30g of sugar – or even more, depending on the recipe.
This makes a difference to your energy balance. Several cups quickly add up to an extra 200 to 400 kilocalories. This is a problem for people with diabetes, high blood lipids, or anyone watching their weight.
Another mulled wine, please!
Temperature also plays a role in mulled wine consumption. A warm alcoholic drink provides a cozy feeling in subzero temperatures, snowfall and icy winds.
And that often means that one mulled wine is not enough. Warm drinks are consumed more quickly than pure wines at room temperature.
In addition, spices and sugar mask the taste of alcohol. As a result, you are less aware of the strength and often drink more and faster. Mulled wine and other alcoholic hot drinks can therefore lead to unnoticed high alcohol consumption.
There is a persistent rumour that mulled wine is healthy because of the spices. But that’s pure myth.
Typical mulled wine spices such as cinnamon and cloves do contain aromatic plant substances, but their potential benefits are negated by alcohol and sugar.
The bottom line is that the health disadvantages of alcohol outweigh the possible benefits of the spices.
So do I have to give up mulled wine?
From a health perspective, unfortunately, the best thing would be not to drink mulled wine at all. Research has now shown that every sip of alcohol can be harmful to your health.
There is no risk-free amount of alcohol, only low-risk alcohol consumption of one to two alcoholic drinks per week. But the best option is zero alcohol
If you still can’t bring yourself to give up mulled wine completely, there are a few things you should keep in mind so that you don’t have a rude awakening the morning after visiting the Christmas market.
Keep an eye on portion sizes. A standard cup usually holds 200 ml – that counts as one alcoholic drink.
Plan in some variety: drink water-rich, non-alcoholic beverages in between.
Don’t forget to eat: a snack, such as a hearty hot sausage or a portion of chips, slows down alcohol absorption.
Watch out for additives: “Mit Schuss” (with a shot) significantly increases the amount of alcohol. So it’s better to skip the schnapps in your mulled wine – it usually doesn’t improve the taste much anyway.
Never drive under the influence of alcohol – even one or two drinks can impair your driving ability. It’s therefore best to use public transport or a taxi to get home.
Try alcohol-free alternatives
There are now quite a few alcohol-free mulled wine alternatives, not just the often somewhat bland children’s punch.
Whether it’s alcohol-free mulled gin with hot apple juice, butterbeer or a hot alcohol-free Hugo – there is now a wide selection at Christmas markets when it comes to hot drinks.
Those who take the plunge and experiment will notice that non-alcoholic mulled wine alternatives taste really delicious and also provide that Christmas feeling – and are guaranteed not to leave you with a sore head the next morning.