Researchers say the type of alcohol you drink can affect how risky it is, while also warning about the wider health consequences of regular drinking.
Most people know alcohol isn’t doing their body any favors, but social norms and routine can make it feel like a harmless part of everyday life.
Even so, growing evidence suggests there’s no truly “safe” level of alcohol intake, a position that has been echoed by the World Health Organization.
In the US, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans also emphasize that drinking less is associated with better overall health.
Once alcohol is in your system, it’s metabolized into a toxic byproduct that can damage DNA and tissues. In the short term, that can contribute to inflammation, weakened immune function, and hormonal disruption.
Because of the possible long-term effects, alcohol has been categorized as a probable human carcinogen, meaning it may raise the likelihood of developing several cancers.
In a study led by a research group in China, participants’ questionnaire responses and self-reported drinking habits were analyzed. The team found that the chances of dying from cancer or heart disease were higher for people drinking low to moderate amounts of some beverages compared with others.
Based on their results, spirits, beer, and cider appeared to be linked with greater risk than an equivalent amount of wine.
In the study’s definitions, “moderate” wine drinking meant roughly one to three glasses per day. People in that group were notably less likely to die from heart disease than those who never drank or only drank occasionally.
By contrast, the researchers reported a nine percent higher risk of death among spirits, beer, and cider drinkers—even among those consuming relatively small amounts (under one to 1.5 drinks).
Senior study author Dr Zhangling Chen, a professor at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in China, discussed what the findings suggest.
He said: “Our findings help clarify previously mixed evidence on low to moderate alcohol consumption.
“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.”
The researchers said the reasons for the differences aren’t fully understood. One possible explanation is that wine—particularly red wine—contains polyphenols and antioxidants, which may help reduce inflammation associated with heart disease.
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