# Can muslims drink mulled wine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009 "2006-12-13T19:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/21 "2006-12-14T01:30:13Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Mulled wine is a **Crist** mas drink. [/QUOTE] So? I’m Jewish and don’t celebrate Christmas, but I sometimes drink mulled wine. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/22 "2006-12-14T02:27:15Z")
I also seem to recall reading of a hadith somewhere stating that “If a gallon will intoxicate, then one drop is forbidden”, or something to that effect. That seems to make it pretty clear that the standard is “none at all, or as low as is humanly possible”. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/23 "2006-12-14T02:54:20Z")
[QUOTE=groman] Hm… I think this calls for a cite from both sides. If I remember correctly ethyl alcohol averages to have about 5x the evaporation rate of water. However, how that compares to vaporization rate at boiling temperature I do not know. [/QUOTE] This was discussed earlier in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=398666), though without **WhyNot’s** excellent cite that completely answers the practical question. Basically, if you heat a mixture of water and alcohol long enough, you **will** boil off all of the alcohol. The two mix to form a low-boiling point [azeotrope](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeotrope), meaning that they both boil off together at temperatures between the boiling point of either liquid. Still, the alcohol will boil away significantly faster than water in such a case. It may take a while, but if you continue heating until reaching the boiling point of water (or whatever else you’re cooking, sans alcohol), the alcohol will be all gone. But as **WhyNot’s** cite seems to indicate, this won’t happen with any kind of normal cooking. It probably takes a short amount of time at a rigorous rolling boil, or a really long time while simmering. Still, it’s possible to “cook out” alcohol – though the results may not be very palatable. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/24 "2006-12-14T03:23:16Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] I also seem to recall reading of a hadith somewhere stating that “If a gallon will intoxicate, then one drop is forbidden”, or something to that effect. That seems to make it pretty clear that the standard is “none at all, or as low as is humanly possible”. [/QUOTE] That’s true, [according to this](http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/026.sat.html#026.3673) > [@](#): > > The Prophet (peace\_be\_upon\_him) said: If a large amount of anything causes intoxication, a small amount of it is prohibited. although [according to this news article from 2004, in some places that is changing](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3527724.stm) ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/25 "2006-12-14T04:25:38Z")
When I had a hallal-observant Muslim friend over to dinner, I asked him if wine vinegar would be OK, like in a salad dressing, and he thought it’d be fine as the alcohol had all been converted to acetic acid. Would this be a safe assumption for Muslims in general, or the sort of thing about which there are different opinions? ---
**Author:** ![Mikaal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mikaal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikaal)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/26 "2011-06-06T06:38:30Z")
Hi, some thoughts: Generally the principle in Islam is that if you are unsure if something is permissible or impermissible, then avoid it out of piety (i.e. don’t do it). Foods that are cooked with alcohol tend to have some alcohol left over, and even if you cook the food for a very long time it’s impossible (for anyone without some type of scientific test, I suppose) to be positive that ALL of the alcohol is gone. Vinegar is generally considered a great food, but it is not permissible to deliberately change wine into vinegar. This is because alcohol is considered the mother of all evils in Islam, and there are hadith which enumerate those who are cursed by it (see below). Al-Tirmidhi (1295) narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed ten with regard to alcohol: the one who squeezes (the grapes etc), the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who pours it, the one who sells it and consumes its price, the one who buys it and the one for whom it is bought.” Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked whether wine could be changed to be used as vinegar. He said, ‘No.’” (Reported by Muslim). Abu Talhah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about some orphans who had inherited some wine. He said, “Pour it away.” He was asked, “Could they not make it into vinegar?” He said, “No.” (Reported by Muslim) To make vinegar like that requires you to handle the wine and also encourages the making of, and demand for wine. ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “… There is nothing wrong with a man buying vinegar from the people of the Book, if they sell it, so long as he knows that they did not deliberately process it from wine.” (Al-Mughni, 8/330) I hope that clears things up. And I myself did not collect these, but as a practicing muslim I looked over some fatwa databases I knew. The sources I used are in accordance with authentic sunnee Islam. There are many sources online that are not, just fyi (even though they may claim to be). ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/27 "2011-06-06T07:10:32Z")
Can zombies drink mulled wine? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/28 "2011-06-06T07:36:36Z")
Presumably they use it to pickle their brains… ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/29 "2011-06-06T07:49:29Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Alcohol makes blood sugar very wonky. To simplify things greatly, the liver puts a greater priority on metabolizing alcohol than on elevating glucose levels in the blood (which is part of its regular job.) This can lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels very quickly. On top of that, the effects of alcohol (not in sherried chicken, but in drinking) often mask low blood sugar and confuse the diabetic further. > > More information on alcohol and diabetes [here.](http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/alcohol.jsp) > > If a person is a well-controlled diabetic then moderate drinking may be OK, but she should check with her doctor, of course. > > I used it as an example because it’s one of the few common conditions for which alcohol might be seriously \*medically \*contraindicated, not just disliked or avoided on preference. As an actual living, breathing type 1 diabetic (since 1993), believe me in that you are vastly over-stating the effect of small amounts of alcohol, (which a glass of sherry in a recipe is). Anyway, it is vastly more complex than you let on. For a start, the type of drink changes it. Beer, for example, has a lot more carbohydrate than other alcoholic drinks (for example, wine) and will usually send blood sugar higher rather than lower. Believe me, I’ve done extensive testing in this. I’ve never in my life had a dangerously low blood sugar. Oh and you’d have to be seriously, SERIOUSLY, hammered to not recognise your hypo symptoms long enough for it to be an issue. Seriously. The intense sweating is usually a give away. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/30 "2011-06-06T16:39:26Z")
If vinegar is a great food, but it’s forbidden to turn wine into vinegar, then how do you make it? ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/31 "2011-06-06T16:42:11Z")
> [@groman](#): > > I really doubt that you can make something ‘alcohol-free’ by mulling it unless you do it for a really really realy long time. You can make it alcohol-free by Mullah-ing it though. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/32 "2011-06-06T16:45:18Z")
I know one Muslim who won’t consume vinegar because its made from alcohol. His wife (also Muslim) thinks he’s crazy. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/33 "2011-06-06T17:34:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Mulled wine is generally associated with C(h)ristmas today, but was originally just a way to make spoiled wine palatable. Huh? No, mulled wine is associated with Christmas because at that time of the year, it’s winter in Europe, meaning its cold, making a warm drink very very welcome. To the OP, there is at least one interpretation (don’t know how common among Muslims; second-hand) that the relevant part of the Koran says that “everything that makes drunk is forbidden”, which means wine drunk in moderation is allowed, and other drugs besides wine like Hash are also forbidden. Practically, Muslim culture has usually forbidden all wine, and allowed Hash and other drugs. There’s also the second-hand story that the reason for alcohol being forbidden is that the Prophet Mohammed passed a house in which people were feasting and having a fun time, so he asked “why are you all so happy?” and was told “Because of Alcohol/Wine” and he said “Well, in that case, blessed be the wine!”, but when he came back the next day, everybody was sitting around with a hangover, sick and headaches. So he asked “why are you all so miserable?” and was told “Because of Wine”, so he said “well in that case, damned/ forbidden be the wine/ alcohol/ everything that makes drunk” There’s also the second-hand story that wine is allowed for medical reasons - so if your doctor prescribes one glass of red wine each day for your heart, or mulled wine to heat you up when you’re cold, or a glass of champagne for circulation problems (as society women did last century) - then it’s okay. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/34 "2011-06-07T10:12:18Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > Huh? No, mulled wine is associated with Christmas because at that time of the year, it’s winter in Europe, meaning its cold, making a warm drink very very welcome. Yeah, but mulled wine is a staple of German Christmas markets, and I have it from good authority (= personal experience ;)) that besides keeping you warm, the effect of getting tanked is just as welcome to most people. And you definitely can get drunk on mulled wine, so I think that it ought to be a no-go for a strict Muslim. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/35 "2011-06-07T13:33:47Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I know one Muslim who won’t consume vinegar because its made from alcohol. His wife (also Muslim) thinks he’s crazy. **Mikaal** ’s explanation seems pretty compelling in support. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/36 "2011-06-07T14:28:24Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Mulled wine is essentially cooked, so the alcohol is driven off and the end product alcohol-free. I speak from painful personal experience, this statement is emphatically _FALSE_. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/37 "2011-06-07T18:52:38Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Believe me, I’ve done extensive testing in this. I’ve never in my life had a dangerously low blood sugar. Oh and you’d have to be seriously, SERIOUSLY, hammered to not recognise your hypo symptoms long enough for it to be an issue. Seriously. The intense sweating is usually a give away. Depends on your definition of “seriously” and “low”. I’ve had occasions when after 2 glasses of wine, with dinner, my blood sugar plummeted to about 30-40 mg/dl and stayed there for around an hour (at 3 in the morning). Might not be medically seriously low, but it is bloody scary. And also, don’t underestimate the effects of hypoglycemic unawareness. Though I do agree with you in general – the amount of alcohol **WhyNot** was talking about will have, IME too, very little effect on blood sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009/38 "2011-06-07T20:10:35Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > There’s also the second-hand story that the reason for alcohol being forbidden is that the Prophet Mohammed passed a house in which people were feasting and having a fun time, so he asked “why are you all so happy?” and was told “Because of Alcohol/Wine” and he said “Well, in that case, blessed be the wine!”, but when he came back the next day, everybody was sitting around with a hangover, sick and headaches. So he asked “why are you all so miserable?” and was told “Because of Wine”, so he said “well in that case, damned/ forbidden be the wine/ alcohol/ everything that makes drunk” “To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to all of life’s problems!” --Homer (S.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-muslims-drink-mulled-wine/384009.md?page=1)