IBS and Alcohol: Can You Still Enjoy a Drink?

Does alcohol trigger your IBS symptoms? Learn how alcohol affects irritable bowel syndrome and how you can manage your symptoms while still enjoying a drink.

Woman is hugging her female friend from behind her chair; they are at a dinner table with friends and a glass of wine is on the table

Updated September 03, 2025

By Gregory Seltzer, MD, Gastroenterologist, Virtua Gastroenterology

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States. The symptoms vary but usually include some combination of cramping, stomach pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

There's a long list of foods and beverages that can potentially trigger or worsen IBS symptoms—including alcohol. While some people suffering from IBS have to eliminate alcohol from their diet completely, others can still enjoy an occasional drink.

If you have IBS, you need to understand how your body reacts to alcohol so you can manage how much you drink.

What causes IBS?

While researchers aren't sure what causes IBS, several triggers can lead to symptoms and vary by person, including:

Foods. It’s not yet clear how food affects IBS symptoms, but many people report worsening symptoms when they consume chocolate, fats, fruits, beans, cabbage, dairy products, carbonated beverages, coffee, and alcohol.
Stress. Although stress doesn't cause IBS, it can aggravate symptoms.
Hormones. Women are more likely to have IBS than men, so researchers believe that hormonal changes may worsen symptoms.

Unlike inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, IBS doesn’t cause damage to your colon and doesn’t increase your risk of developing colon cancer.

How does alcohol affect IBS?

Alcohol can irritate the gut, which can lead to a flare-up of IBS symptoms. If alcohol is one of your triggers, you may notice increased cramping or bloating after consuming even a small amount. You also may notice diarrhea or constipation if you're especially sensitive to alcohol.

Depending on your level of sensitivity, even one alcoholic beverage can be enough to trigger a flare-up. Some alcoholic drinks may be more likely to cause flare-ups than others. For instance, many IBS patients report that beer significantly worsens their symptoms.

Some individuals report a noticeable improvement in IBS symptoms after giving up alcohol altogether. Others experience relief after cutting back on the amount of alcohol they consume or by avoiding alcoholic drinks that trigger symptoms.

How can I tell if alcohol is one of my IBS triggers?

It’s important to track what you eat and drink and in what amounts to understand which foods or beverages worsen your symptoms.

If you're not sure if alcohol bothers you, eliminate it and see if your symptoms subside. Once your symptoms are stable, try one drink to see if it triggers your IBS symptoms.

You can try this same technique with different types of alcohol to see if some are more tolerable than others. Of course, it's recommended that you drink alcohol in moderation—no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

Although IBS can cause discomfort, most people can manage their symptoms by controlling their diet and managing stress. However, you should talk to your doctor if you're experiencing severe symptoms that affect your quality of life.