By all means enjoy gin, but if you take it with tonic water, it’s for the flavour and not protection against malaria !


Gin and tonic originated in British colonial India, when the British population would mix their medicinal quinine tonic with gin to improve its bitter flavour. In fact tonic water nowadays may well either contain very little “ natural “ quinine, or “ quinine flavouring “ only ( with / without sweeteners ).


Quinine is a natural alkaloid which was for three centuries the antimalarial drug of choice. It’s unsuitable for prevention of malaria, although still used – not as a first line drug – in treatment ( and for other conditions such as leg cramps ).


Even if gin and tonic with quinine WAS taken for malaria, at 2 units of alcohol per measure, at least 50 measures would be needed for one effective dose !


Cheers !