As a hay fever sufferer, I've always dreaded pollen.

However, instead of having to hide away in a cloud of tissues and Claritin, you can now casually sip on gin and get the same effects or at the very least, it's the alcoholic beverage of choice to avoid making your hay fever any worse. Clear spirits such as gin and vodka are low in sulphites and histamines and yeah makes sense, when you consider how antihistamines are often helpful when it comes to battling hay fever. A couple of years ago I noticed that when I went on nights out if I drank gin or a gin-based cocktail I would feel fine the next day. This surprised me as I wouldn't regularly be a gin drinker and thought it would have given me a hangover. On the other hand, beer was making me feel really ill even though I'd usually be a beer drinker. After a quick Google, I found that fermented beverages are culprits when it comes to setting off hay fever. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you love a glass of red wine with your al fresco lunch you may find yourself with puffy eyes. Dark drinks like red wine are on the opposite end of the scale. It'll basically give you the same effects as rubbing your face in a bunch of flowers. You can read more about the research from AsthmaUK and considering there is due to be a high pollen count this weekend, now is the time to get educated. Seeing as gin is the drink du jour in Ireland at the moment there's no end of options when it comes to picking some up at the supermarket and with the weather set to be glorious this weekend be rude not to have a glass really. Now when you fancy a gin and tonic all you have to say is "It's for my allergies", and you won't even be spoofing.