While some people say drinking alcohol causes them to have stiff and painful joints, research has not yet concluded that drinking has an impact on those with arthritis.
According to WebMD, beer and liquor consumption can increase the risk of gout, a buildup of uric acid that creates pain in the feet and knees, but wine did not seem to have the same effect. Alcohol also may interfere with the effectiveness of some pain medications, making pain feel more intense
Alcohol can suppress the immune system after a period of time with heavy consumption, WebMD said, opening the door to many health problems. It can also cause neuropathy, making someone feel a pins and needles sensation in their extremities, a compounded effect with those who suffer from arthritis.
Healthline calls alcohol an arthritis “trigger food” along with others like dairy, fried and processed items, salt and preservatives, and corn oil, among others.
Drinking alcohol is not recommended for those on disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which are taken for rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term DMARD use is associated with liver toxicity, Everyday Health noted