High fructose corn syrup is basically sucrose (table sugar), but with a little more fructose. Sucrose is 50-50 fructose-to-glucose. HFCS ranges from 50-50 fructose-to-glucose to as high as 85-15, but most lies under 65-35. The problem is fructose. Avoid sucrose and HFCS and you avoid the fructose problem.
I admit that I have more problems with fructose and alcohol than most people because of a suspected ALDH2 mutation (Asian flush from American Indian heritage). I consider myself to be a canary in the coal mine.