Rhianna Benson
When it comes to seasonal sipping, for many drinkers, only one beverage takes the cake - mulled wine.
However, this tasty tipple should be consumed with caution, with health experts issuing a vital warning ahead of heavy drinking tonight.
The boozy sweet-treat is a wine that's been gently warmed and seasoned with mulling spices like cinnamon, cloves and star anise, as well as citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and a sweetener.
It's the perfect drink for Christmas, often served in German markets across the country - usually under the name Glühwein - and warmed up on the stove by families around the world.
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Despite links to Western European, the tradition supposedly started in ancient Rome, when Romans heated wine with spices to keep them warm as they rampaged through colder areas of the world. They also believed these herbs boasted a series of health benefits.
But over time, mulled wine became strongly associated with Christmas, especially in Victorian Britain and Nordic countries like Sweden.
However, experts have this week spoken out about a largely-unknown risk that comes with this festive bev.
According to alcohol safety professionals, anyone tempted to order a mulled wine on a night out or at their local pub should remain extra alert, given that its bold flavours often make chemicals used to spike harder to detect.
"Mulled wine, and in general red wine, is a very hard drink to detect potential spiking due to a few key reasons," co-founder of CounterSpike, Alex Bodikian, explained. "You should be aware of these heading into the Christmas market season."
It's not just the drink's rich taste that makes dangerous substances hard to detect, but its colour.
Sometimes, we can rely on our sight to spot drugs fizzing away or floating near the rim.
With dark wines, however, this can prove tricky.
Such is also the case with smells, with the seasonal blend of spices sometimes strong enough to collectively help to mask any unusual substances.
Bodikian continued: "The festive season is, unfortunately, one of the most high-risk times for drink spiking.
"Christmas markets are busy and distracting settings, and with more people letting their hair down during the festivities, it can create more opportunities for perpetrators, especially when drinks that are mostly undetectable are at hand."
He added: "According to the Office for National Statistics, many crimes increase during the winter months due to the darker nights, and with Google searches for ‘spiking’ soaring in November every single year, particularly soaring 68% in the last three months, we’re issuing an urgent warning to help people avoid a spiking incident this season.
"Our research found that 72% of 18-24-year-olds are anxious about being spiked, with 11.7 million Brits knowing someone personally who has been a victim of spiking.
"With this in mind, we’re encouraging people across the country to enjoy their celebrations but to stay vigilant and connected. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t - act quickly."
Asked how to safely consume mulled wine when out and about in public, Bodikian recommended always keeping your drink in view, staying with trusted groups of people at all times, and planning your route home.
On top of this, he advised never accepting drinks from strangers and always trusting your instincts.
Knowing the symptoms of spiking - dizziness, loss of coordination, nausea - is also vital, not just when drinking mulled wine, but all drinks.
And if you fear someone has slipped something into your drink, he emphasises not ignoring the warning signs and telling a trusted person immediately.
Lastly, Bodikian added, never sleep it off if you suspect you've been spiked - instead, seek medical attention immediately.
If you’ve been affected by drink spiking, call 999 immediately if you are in danger. If you wish to report spiking to the police, it is advised that you call 999 or 101 as soon as possible. You can also report it online if your local police force offers this service.
For support after experiencing drink spiking, you can contact Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111, which operates 24/7 every day of the year including Christmas. You can also use their live chat service.