From the Guidelines
The safest amount of alcohol is no alcohol at all, as there is no established safe threshold for alcohol consumption. If you choose to drink, low-risk drinking guidelines suggest limiting intake to no more than 1 standard drink per day for women and 2 standard drinks per day for men, with several alcohol-free days each week [ 1 ]. A standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, equivalent to 12 ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol), 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol), or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% alcohol).
Key Considerations
- No specific type of alcohol (beer, wine, or spirits) is inherently safer than others; what matters most is the amount of pure alcohol consumed [ 1 ].
- Alcohol affects everyone differently based on factors like body weight, metabolism, medications, and health conditions.
- Even moderate alcohol consumption carries some health risks, including increased risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular issues [ 1 ].
- For pregnant women, those with certain medical conditions, people taking medications that interact with alcohol, and those with a history of alcohol use disorder, complete abstinence is recommended.
Health Risks Associated with Alcohol Consumption
- Alcohol consumption is an established cause of at least 7 types of cancer [ 1 ].
- The carcinogenic effects of ethanol found in alcoholic beverages and acetaldehyde involve DNA and protein damage and alterations, oxidative stress, inhibition of DNA repair and cell death, increased cell proliferation, nutritional malabsorption, changes in DNA methylation, and, for breast cancer, increased estrogen levels [ 1 ].
- Alcohol consumption also interacts synergistically with tobacco use to increase the risk of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract considerably more than the risk associated with either drinking alcohol or tobacco use alone [ 1 ].
Recommendations
- It is best not to drink alcohol, but if you choose to drink, limit your consumption to no more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men [ 1 ].
- Be aware of the risks associated with alcohol consumption and take steps to minimize them, such as drinking in moderation and avoiding alcohol altogether if you have certain health conditions or are taking medications that interact with alcohol.
From the Research
Safe Amount and Type of Ethanol Consumption
- The safest amount of ethanol consumption is considered to be up to 1 drink per day for women and 1 to 2 drinks per day for men, with some studies suggesting that even this amount may pose a health risk for certain individuals 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The type of ethanol consumption that is considered safest is moderate, non-bingeing consumption of beer or wine, with some studies suggesting that wine may confer greater cardiovascular protection than spirits 3, 4, 6.
- It is recommended that individuals with certain health conditions, such as chronic illness, or those who are pregnant or taking multiple medications, should abstain from alcohol consumption altogether 2, 6.
- Excessive drinking, defined as more than 4 drinks per day for men and more than 3 drinks per day for women, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and other health problems 3, 4, 5.
Circumstances for Abstention
- Pregnancy: individuals who are pregnant should abstain from alcohol consumption altogether 2, 6.
- Chronic illness: individuals with certain health conditions, such as liver or pancreatic disease, should abstain from alcohol consumption or consume in moderation 2, 6.
- Driving a vehicle: individuals who plan to drive a vehicle should abstain from alcohol consumption altogether 2.
- Young adults and older adults with co-morbid conditions: individuals in these groups should be encouraged to consume less alcohol, particularly if taking multiple medications 2.
Benefits and Risks
- Moderate ethanol consumption may be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke 3, 4, 6.
- Excessive ethanol consumption is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and other health problems 3, 4, 5.
- The risk-to-benefit ratio of drinking appears to be higher in younger individuals, who also have higher rates of excessive or binge drinking and more frequently have adverse consequences of acute intoxication 3, 4.