While moderate alcohol use may be associated with some health benefits, like raising “good” HDL cholesterol, alcohol also has negative effects on the body.

The effects of alcohol can depend on the amount and type of alcohol consumed and also vary between individuals. However, the potential health benefits generally do not outweigh the negative effects. If you choose to drink alcohol, it’s best to do so in moderation.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommendsTrusted Source that people who do not drink alcohol not start drinking it and that people who do drink it limit their intake.

If your motivation for drinking alcohol is to get health benefits, it’s best to get those benefits in another way, such as through diet and exercise. For example, the reason red wine is often associated with health benefits is due to antioxidants and flavonoids that come from grapes like resveratrol. You can also get them from eating red grapes, drinking red grape juice, or eating blueberries.

However, you may choose to drink alcohol for other reasons. It’s still best to stick to the recommendations of moderate alcohol consumption.

What is moderate alcohol consumption?

Moderate drinking is definedTrusted Source as at most one standard drink per day for females and at most two for males, while heavy drinking is defined as more than three drinks per day for females and four for males.

In the US, one standard drink is any drink that contains 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol (ethanol). For example:

  • 12 fl oz of regular beer, about 5% alcohol
  • 8 to 9 fl oz of malt liquor, about 7% alcohol
  • 5 fl oz of table wine, about 12% alcohol
  • 1.5 fl oz shot of 80-proof spirits (hard liquor like whiskey, gin, rum, vodka, tequila), about 40% alcohol

Keep reading to learn about the effects of alcohol on the body and the potential benefits of drinking or not drinking it.

The relationship between alcohol and cardiovascular health is complex.

Researchers have typically described the cardiovascular effects of moderate alcohol consumption as a J-shaped curve, in which people with low-to-moderate consumption may have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease compared to people who have never used alcohol. People with heavy alcohol consumption have the highest risk.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noteTrusted Source that drinking less or not at all is better for your health.

The authors of a 2020 review on the effects of alcohol on the cardiovascular system suggest the reduced risk with light to moderate consumption of alcohol may result from:

  • an increase in “good” HDL cholesterol
  • an increase in the proteins that break down fibrinogen (which is responsible for blood clots)

Cardiovascular disease includes coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

Light to moderate alcohol consumption may also reduce the risk of diabetes, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

The AHA notesTrusted Source that drinking more than a moderate amount can raise certain fats in the blood, known as triglycerides. Combined with high “bad” LDL cholesterol or low “good” HDL cholesterol, this can lead to fat buildup in the walls of the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Heavy alcohol use can also lead to other negative effects on the cardiovascular system, including:

The liver neutralizes various toxic substances you consume. For this reason, your liver is particularly vulnerable to damage from alcohol intake.

Liver diseases caused by alcohol consumption are collectively known as alcohol-associated liver disease. Drinking 30 to 50 gramsTrusted Source of alcohol for more than five years can cause alcohol-associated liver disease.

Types of alcohol-associated liver disease include:

  • Fatty liver disease: Fatty liver disease is characterized by increased fat inside liver cells that results from the metabolic process of neutralizing alcohol.
  • Alcohol-induced hepatitis: The second stage, alcohol-induced hepatitis, is characterized by inflammation of liver cells.
  • Alcohol-induced cirrhosis: The third stage, cirrhosis, happens when liver cells are replaced with scar tissue. This damage is irreversible and is associated with complications and portal hypertension.

Alcohol consumption can have numerous adverse effects on your brain. These can include:

Alcohol-related driving impairment is responsible for about 34 traffic related deaths per day.

Heavy drinking over time can have increased effects on the brain, such as:

  • changes in brain structure
  • impaired brain function, a permanent change that may develop over time
  • risk of all types of dementia
  • brain shrinkage
  • disruption in the communication between nerve cells
  • damage to neurons
  • increased inflammation, which may contribute to cognitive decline

Some research has identified a possible benefit of light to moderate alcohol consumption on brain health.

Moderate drinking was associated with a lower risk of dementia when compared with lifetime abstaining, according to a 2022 analysis of 15 international studies.

Alcohol use may impact on body weight.

Alcohol is the second most calorie-rich nutrient after fat, packing about 7 calories per gram. However, despite its calories, alcohol also doesn’t make you feel full compared to solid food and may make you feel more hungry. It also slows the oxidation of dietary fat.

BeerTrusted Source has a similar number of calories as sugary soft drinksTrusted Source, ounce for ounce, whereas red wine has twiceTrusted Source as much.

However, studies investigating the link between alcohol and weight have provided inconsistent results.

Drinking alcohol appears to increase food and calorie intake during a drinking episode, which increases total calorie intake in a day.

It seems that drinking habits and preferences may play a role.

Alcohol intake and depression are closely but complexly associated.

Having alcohol use disorder, a form of substance use disorder, at least doubles the risk of depression and anxiety disorders, according to a 2023 narrative review of research.

The same review also suggests that reducing alcohol use results in substantial reductions in symptoms of depression.

People facing anxiety and depression drink intentionally to reduce stress and improve their mood. While drinking may provide a few hours of relief, it may worsen your overall mental health over time.

Alcohol is a known carcinogen. This means it can damage DNA or promote cell growth in ways that can potentially lead to cancer or make recurrence more likely. Cancer happens when cells in the body begin to grow out of control due to a mutation.

Alcohol consumption is associated withTrusted Source an increased risk of certain types of cancer, including:

  • oral cavity
  • pharynx
  • larynx
  • colon/rectum
  • esophagus (specifically squamous cell carcinoma)
  • hepatocellular carcinoma
  • stomach
  • breast (in females)

The cells lining your mouth and throat are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol. Mouth and throat cancer are 1.8 timesTrusted Source as likely in light drinkers and 5 times as likely in heavy drinkers.

Generally the risk increases the more alcohol you drink per day.

Though more research is still needed, alcohol use may alsoTrusted Source increase the risk of addition cancer types, including:

  • gallbladder
  • lung
  • pancreatic
  • prostate
  • skin cancer

Alcohol can negatively affectTrusted Source a developing fetus and increase the risk for adverse health effects, such as:

The CDC recommendsTrusted Source avoiding all alcohol if you are trying to become pregnant.

Alcohol use disorder (formerly known as alcoholism or alcohol abuse) is a medical and mental health condition that involves being unable to stop or reduce alcohol use despite it having negative consequences on life and daily functioning.

Alcohol use disorder involves a habitual and often heavy drinking that leads to a group of symptoms that may include:

  • cravings for alcohol
  • using alcohol despite negative health effects or negative effects on relationships, school, or work
  • having tolerance to alcohol (needing an increased amount to feel the effects)
  • having symptoms of alcohol withdrawal when reducing or stopping use

Alcohol use disorder ranges from mild to severe, depending on the number of symptoms a person experiences.

Help is available

If you, or a loved one, may have alcohol use disorder, help is available. You can talk with a primary care doctor or other specialist about your concerns and how to reduce or stop your alcohol use safely.

Alcohol use disorder requires treatment from a healthcare professional to support you through alcohol detoxification.

Red wine is often associated with health benefits when consumed in moderation because it contains healthy antioxidants, which may help prevent the cell-damaging oxidative stress that occurs with alcohol consumption.

Generally, the best option for your overall health is to consume less alcohol.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendTrusted Source not drinking or, if you choose to drink, moderate alcohol consumption. This is 2 standard drinks or less in a day for males and 1 drink or less in a day for females, on days when alcohol is consumed. They also note that drinking less is better for your health than drinking more.

You may decide to opt for alcohol-removed beverages, including dealcoholized wine and beers, which have a very low alcohol content. Brands have also made non-alcoholic spirits, which may serve as alternatives for alcohol in mixed drinks.

While some research suggests light to moderate consumption of alcohol may have cardiovascular benefits, it may not counteract the negative effects of alcohol. Heavy alcohol use is associated with increased adverse effects, especially among people who drink habitually.

The negative effects of alcohol can include:

  • liver damage
  • increased cancer risk
  • loss of brain tissue
  • increased risk of depression depression

Some alcohol, particularly red wine, has been linked to decreased risk of certain health conditions due to its antioxidant content.

However, the AHATrusted Source notes that it may not counteract the negative effects and that you can find similar antioxidant benefits in red grapes, red grape juice, and blueberries.