Spring is on its way and while we can’t wait for the sunshine, the season signals drama for hay fever sufferers.

Spring equals longer days, lightweight cashmere and gorgeous blooms. However with all that flower pollen flying through the air it can also mean runny noses and itchy red eyes for those allergic to it. With the longer days it’s high time to enjoy a few wines on the deck, but according to a new study, that glass (or three) of rosé could be making your hay fever worse.

Both asthma and hay fever are are triggered by allergens and the study, undertaken by Asthma UK, revealed that for 64 percent of asthma sufferers, symptoms are actually triggered by certain types of alcohol.  Uh oh.

But before you drop your wine glass in despair, read this: it’s substances in the alcohol, not the alcohol itself. Sulphites — a type of preservative which is added to some drinks including white wine and cider — are the main problem. Alcoholic drinks also naturally contain varying levels of histamine, which in red wine and some beers is particularly high. Bad news for lovers of a cheeky pinot noir then. Considering those hay fever tablets you take are called anti-histamine, you can see why ingesting extra histamines can trigger your symptoms.

Turns out if you want to stay snuffle-free (and any hay fever sufferer will tell you that they do, they really do), the best alcoholic options are white spirits such as vodka or gin.

Another round of G&T’s then? Don’t mind if we do.