A study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26) on Mar. 19 found that the health risks associated with alcohol depend not only on how much is consumed, but also on the type of beverage and drinking habits.
The research analyzed data from more than 340,000 British adults over an average follow-up period of 13 years. The findings suggest that while high levels of alcohol intake are linked to worse health outcomes regardless of beverage type, low to moderate consumption may have different effects depending on whether individuals drink wine, beer, cider, or spirits.
Researchers grouped participants based on their self-reported alcohol intake and tracked mortality outcomes. Those with high alcohol consumption were found to be 24% more likely to die from any cause, 36% more likely to die from cancer, and 14% more likely to die from heart disease compared with never or occasional drinkers. At low and moderate levels of drinking, people who consumed spirits, beer or cider had a higher risk of death than those who drank wine at similar levels.
Specifically for cardiovascular disease deaths, moderate wine drinkers had a 21% lower risk compared with never or occasional drinkers. In contrast, even low intake of spirits, beer or cider was associated with a 9% higher risk compared with abstainers. "Our findings help clarify previously mixed evidence on low to moderate alcohol consumption," Chen said. "These findings can help refine guidance, emphasizing that the health risks of alcohol depend not only on the amount of alcohol consumed, but also on the type of beverage. Even low to moderate intake of spirits, beer or cider is linked to higher mortality, while low to moderate intake of wine may carry lower risk."
Researchers suggested several factors could explain these differences by beverage type. Compounds in red wine such as polyphenols and antioxidants may benefit cardiovascular health; additionally, wine is often consumed with meals by people who tend toward healthier diets and lifestyles overall. In contrast, spirits, beer and cider are more commonly consumed outside meals and were linked with less healthy behaviors.
Chen said: "Taken together, these factors suggest that the type of alcohol, how it is consumed and the associated lifestyle behaviors all contribute to the observed differences in mortality risk." The study adjusted for demographic and lifestyle variables but acknowledged limitations including reliance on self-reported data at baseline and potential lack of generalizability due to healthier-than-average participants in the UK Biobank cohort. Despite these limitations, researchers said their large sample size provides a nuanced understanding of how both amount and type of alcohol relate to various mortality outcomes.
