For decades, research on alcohol focused primarily on the dangers associated with heavy drinking. More recently, however, scientists have begun evaluating whether even low or moderate levels of alcohol consumption may affect long-term health.
A new study suggests that alcohol-related health risks increase steadily as consumption rises and that alcohol does not appear to provide an overall health benefit at any level of drinking.
The study is published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration survey, alcohol is the most commonly consumed substance in the U.S., and in 2024, 134.3 million people ages 12 and older reported drinking over the past month.
The previous dietary guidelines for Americans recommended that adults who consume alcohol should do so in moderation, which was up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
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The current dietary guidelines state that drinking less is better for health, but they do not provide any specifics for what amount of alcohol is considered low-risk.
Recent research suggests that no amount of alcohol is completely risk-free. The new study aimed to better understand how those risks change as alcohol intake increases.
The researchers conducted an extensive review of scientific literature, and out of more than 7,000 pieces, they selected 16 studies to use in their analysis.
The team examined diseases related to alcohol consumption, including multiple types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease.
They next combined data on alcohol-related health risks with national health statistics to come up with the mortality risk associated with different levels of drinking.
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After examining the data, the researchers identified a pattern between weekly alcoholic drink consumption and mortality risk.
The analysis showed that the risk of alcohol-attributable death increased as weekly alcohol consumption rose.
They found that consuming around seven drinks per week was associated with a lifetime risk of alcohol-attributable death of at least 1 in 1,000. The risk sharply increased once alcohol consumption exceeded seven drinks per week.
That mortality risk rose to approximately 1 in 100 when weekly consumption exceeded about 8.5 drinks.
At 14 drinks per week, the estimated risk of an alcohol-attributable death reached 1 in 25.
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The analysis also found elevated risks across multiple health conditions. Even around one drink per day was linked to a higher risk of death due to cirrhosis, esophageal cancer, and oral cancer.
Women also experienced higher rates of breast cancer as weekly drinks increased.
The study authors also touched on prior research into alcohol use and ischemic heart disease and stroke. They noted that prior studies suggested that moderate alcohol use may provide protection against them.
However, their current analysis found that any potential cardiovascular benefits were offset by increases in alcohol-related diseases and injuries.
The researchers emphasized that their findings apply to the general population and do not represent someone’s personal health outcome. They hope the findings help people to make better-informed decisions about alcohol consumption, but noted that genetics and other personal risk factors could affect risk.
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Ketan Thanki, MD, a board-certified colorectal surgeon who specializes in benign and malignant disease of the colon, rectum, and anus with the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute, told Medical News Today that he did not find the study findings surprising.
“Alcohol’s harmful effects on the body are well established,” Thanki said.
He said alcohol can contribute to disease through multiple biological pathways. When the body breaks down alcohol, it produces compounds such as acetaldehyde and free radicals, which can damage DNA and increase the likelihood of mutations linked to cancer.
Thanki explained that alcohol has been linked to multiple cancers, including liver and breast cancer. Additionally, it can disrupt liver function, alter hormone levels, and impair the immune system, all of which may contribute to disease development.
“Keeping consumption low and infrequent, when possible, is a practical way to support long-term health,” Thanki advised.
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Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at Saddleback Medical Center, said the study aligns with growing evidence that alcohol may not provide the cardiovascular benefits once thought.
“For a long time, we thought that a moderate amount of wine drinking might be beneficial. Many studies, including this most recent one, have since shown that any amount of alcohol, including red wine, can cause harm.”
— Cheng-Han Chen, MD
Chen noted that alcohol use has been associated with multiple cardiovascular issues and increases the risk of several cancers and liver disease.
“I will still be advising my patients to drink as little as possible, and preferably not at all,” Chen shared.
