<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
Hello!
 
Being a college student, I'm none too happy about having to remove beer from
my diet --not that I ever drank a lot of it. Still, I tend to wince when
people talk about going out for a beer. On top of it, I seem to be rather
intolerant of coffee and milk, so the cafe scene is a drag as well, unless I
drink tea.
 
So here's my question: It appears that the Canadian Celiac organisations
have different standards when it comes to the types of alcohol that can be
consumed. North of 59 we seem to be less stringent but obviously my Irish
genes are no different from anybody else's. So let's hear from the folks out
there --especially the sensitive ones (I'm not talking about emotions!)-- to
see what our relative experiences have been with
 
1. non-potato vodka
2. whiskey
3. rye
4. rum
5. Other alcoholic drinks, preferably non-liqueur as the latter have so many
ingredients it's hard to tell (and remember!) what exactly it is you're
drinking.
 
Even if these are on the forbidden list, I'm SURE that some of us have not
been able to resist out there. SO FESS UP!
 
Of course, extra care will have to be taken to distinguish between a gluten
reaction and a hang-over! (Which I have even as I right this --rum and
tequila and inexpensive but not 'cheap' French red wine. No reaction.)
 
Another thing to beer in mind (whoops!), if some of us have experimented
with a wee dram or two (or three, or four!) perhaps at those times of
merriment we may have been less careful about other non-regulation goodies.
 
Now, my experience with Canadian Club Whiskey has not been good. I tried it
twice (My room-mate held my arm behind my back and got a wonderful temptress
to give me whiskey kisses...) and the following day I had not only a
hang-over but also diarrhoea. As an insensitive celiac (A brute, said the
temptress...), diarrhoea is the drawing line for me. Then again, in my
wilder youth (6 months ago, ie., pre-diagnosis) I did occasionally get
diarrhoea after consuming too much of any alcohol.
 
So, please, share your anecdotal evidence with me and I'll try to pass it
on. But remember to make the distinctions I made earlier!
 
Thanks and "Bottoms up!".
 
Kerwin Myler