Liquor-based food raises alcohol use indicators: doctorBy Cheng Shu-ting and Jason Pan / Staff reportersAs a cold front hits, many in Taiwan might turn to alcohol-based dishes such as ginger duck stew and chicken soup cooked with wine to keep warm, but doctors cautioned that the alcohol in such dishes could affect blood test results. A pot of ginger duck stew is pictured in an undated photograph. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) tests are usually used in evaluations, as they reflect longer-term regular alcohol consumption, instead of just short-term binge drinking, Su said. “Many people believe that when they stop drinking alcohol one or two weeks before they get tested, their indices would go down, but that is not correct,” Su said. However, some people consume ginger duck stew or wine-cooked chicken soup on cold winter days, which raises their CDT index, he said.

Source: Taipei Times February 08, 2026 17:22 UTC