Malted barley is used to make beer and some other alcoholic drinks, such as whiskey, and some alcoholic drinks contain wheat. Therefore, if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, you’ll need to steer clear of conventional beer and some other drinks. If drinking alcohol—also known as ethanol—gives you food allergy symptoms such as flushing or hives, you may have an what is alcoholism intolerance to alcohol.