A new large study presented at the annual scientific session of the American College of Cardiology provides more information. Although it does not resolve all debates, the study highlights one important question: does the type of drink matter as much as the amount of alcohol consumed?
How was the study conducted?
Researchers used data from the UK Biobank – a long-term project monitoring the health of hundreds of thousands of adult residents of the United Kingdom.
For this analysis, 340,924 people were selected, who were followed for an average of more than 13 years. Researchers assessed their alcohol consumption habits and linked them to the causes and timing of death, writes EatingWell.
At the start of the study, participants completed a dietary questionnaire. Then scientists divided them into four groups based on how much pure alcohol they consumed per day and per week.
For comparison, 12 ounces (about 355 ml) of beer, a 5-ounce (about 150 ml) glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce (about 44 ml) serving of spirits each contain about 14 grams of pure alcohol.
People who consumed less than 20 grams of alcohol per week, or less than 1.5 standard drinks, were classified as never or rarely drinking.
Low consumption was defined as:
- for men – from 20 grams per week up to 20 grams per day;
- for women – from 20 grams per week up to 10 grams per day.
Moderate consumption:
- for men – from 20 to 40 grams per day;
- for women – from 10 to 20 grams per day.
High alcohol consumption was considered:
- more than 40 grams per day for men;
- more than 20 grams per day for women.
What did the study show?
The most striking result was observed among the highest alcohol consumers.
Compared to those who never drank alcohol or drank rarely, people in the highest consumption group had a 24% higher risk of death from any cause.
Also, their:
- risk of death from cancer was 36% higher;
- risk of death from heart disease was 14% higher.
In the lower and moderate alcohol consumption groups, results depended on the type of drink.
Beer, cider, and spirits were associated with a higher risk of death, while a similar amount of wine was associated with a lower risk.
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Even small consumption of spirits, beer, or cider was associated with a 9% higher risk of death from cardiovascular diseases.
These findings align with previous peer-reviewed studies on the harm of higher alcohol consumption.
A 2026 study published in the journal Cancer, involving 88,092 people, found that those who consumed the most alcohol over their lifetime had a 25% higher risk of colorectal cancer. Meanwhile, people who consistently drank heavily as adults had a 91% higher risk.
Concern is also raised by alcohol’s effect on the brain. A 2025 study published in the journal Neurology linked heavy alcohol consumption with small vessel damage in the brain and changes associated with dementia.
People who had consumed a lot of alcohol also had smaller brain volume and poorer cognitive function scores.
Study limitations
It is important to consider several aspects when evaluating these results.
First, the study was presented at a scientific conference but has not yet been peer-reviewed, so its results should be considered preliminary.
Additionally, it was an observational study. This means it can show associations between alcohol consumption and risk of death but cannot prove that alcohol caused these deaths.
Participants self-reported their alcohol consumption, and the amount consumed was assessed only at the start of the study. Therefore, the study did not show how their drinking habits may have changed in later years.
Finally, UK Biobank participants are generally healthier than the general population, so results may not always be directly applicable to everyone.
