After 3 years of not tolerating alcohol, why can I suddenly drink gin and Coke without reflux?

Hi everyone, I’ve had reflux (possibly LPR) for years now, and alcohol has almost always triggered symptoms — especially throat irritation, nausea, stomach discomfort, and just a general “off” feeling. Because of that, I haven’t really been able to drink alcohol comfortably in about three years.

But recently, I’ve tried gin mixed with Coca-Cola a few times, and to my surprise, I’ve been able to tolerate it really well. Even when I drank enough to feel tipsy or a little drunk, I didn’t get the usual symptoms. Sometimes I took pantoprazole or Gaviscon, but not always — and still felt fine.

This is strange for me, since in the past even small amounts would cause symptoms. Could this mean something has improved with my gut or LES? Or is it more about timing, stress, sleep, or what I ate before drinking?

Has anyone else experienced this — where suddenly certain alcohol becomes tolerable after years of problems?