EVERYONE is different when it comes to how much they can drink before feeling sick, but people with alcohol intolerance get ferocious symptoms immediately after drinking alcohol, no matter how much they drink, and they feel more acute than a classic hangover. Alcohol intolerance isn’t an allergy per se, but “intolerance” refers to uncomfortable feelings right after drinking alcohol, according to the Mayo Clinic. A 2006 study suggests that alcohol intolerance could be caused by a genetic disorder that makes it harder for your body to break down alcohol in a drink. Alcohol intolerance is usually genetic, and more common in people of East Asian descent, according to a 2009 study.

Here are some of its symptoms:

Feeling sick right after drinking

Unlike a hangover, which usually hits the morning after drinking way too much, someone with alcohol intolerance will feel ill pretty much instantly after drinking alcohol.

Getting really red in the face

Many people get flushed or red in the face after drinking alcohol, and it’s usually a sign that your body isn’t able to break down a compound in alcohol. When you drink alcohol, your blood vessels expand and your blood pressure drops (which is why some people get headaches from drinking). People with alcohol intolerance aren’t able to break down the compound that causes these blood pressure differences, so instead their face gets very flushed.

Having diarrhea

Looser or more frequent bowel movements after drinking is pretty common for someone with alcohol intolerance. A 2012 study found that around 28 percent of people with alcohol intolerance reported getting diarrhea.

Developing itchy,

red bumps on your skin

If you get hives from drinking, that’s usually a clear-cut sign that you’re having an allergic reaction to the actual alcohol.

Having a runny or stuffy nose

There’s a link between seasonal allergies and alcohol, and a 2008 study found that women with allergies had a 3 percent increase in allergy symptoms for every drink they had per week. This probably has to do with the histamines released in alcohol during the fermentation process, which can set off a person’s allergy symptoms, like a stuffy or runny nose.

Feeling nauseous

When you drink alcohol, your stomach produces more acid, which can irritate your stomach, according to the Mayo Clinic. Someone with an alcohol allergy or intolerance might feel these stomach symptoms more acutely and after fewer drinks than other people. (SD-Agencies)