As reported in a recent UKPA article and according to recent research from the University Hospital of Zurich, drinking wine with a dinner will not increase the risk of indigestion and actually slows down the digestion of a rich meal.

Experts writing in the British Medical Journal studied 20 people who either drank 30cl (approximately three small glasses) of white wine or black tea with a Swiss cheese fondue. Ninety minutes later, the participants were randomly given either 20ml of cherry liqueur or water.

The research focused on fondue. The findings “can be generalised to address the wider issue of alcohol’s effects on digestion and digestive comfort after any large, rich meal of the kind we all enjoy over the festive season”, the researchers said.

None of the people tested had a history of alcohol abuse or stomach disease. They all were of a healthy body mass index and were not taking prescription medicines. All had breath tests after the experiment to assess how the alcohol affected their digestive system.

The results showed digestion was much slower in the group which drank alcohol with their fondue. And those who drank the most alcohol (the wine and liqueur) had the slowest digestion overall.

However, the researchers found no evidence that alcohol caused an increase in indigestion problems such as heartburn, belching or bloating.