According to the results of a new study, low to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increased health risks depending on the type and amount consumed. The study was conducted by researchers from Central South University in Changsha, China and the findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Session 2026 conference.

“Not all alcoholic beverages are metabolically or chemically equivalent, and they may have distinct biological effects that could influence health outcomes differently,” said Dr. Zhangling Chen, the study’s lead author, in her interview with Medscape. “Understanding beverage-specific effects can help clarify whether certain types of alcohol are more or less harmful or even beneficial.”

The study used data from the UK Biobank to analyze alcohol consumption habits and mortality outcomes among over 340,000 adults. In addition, participants were grouped into four categories based on their alcohol intake, ranging from occasional drinking (<20 g/week) to low, moderate, and high consumption based on sex-specific daily thresholds.

It was found that individuals with high alcohol consumption were 24% more likely to die from any cause, 36% more likely to die from cancer, and 14% more likely to die from heart disease than occasional drinkers. Moreover, consuming alcohol before meals also increased health risks. At lower levels of alcohol consumption, it was found that consumption of spirits, beer, or cider was associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality, whereas an equivalent intake of wine was linked to a lower risk. Specifically, moderate wine consumption was associated with a 21% reduction in cardiovascular mortality compared with occasional drinkers, while even low consumption of spirits, beer, or cider was associated with a 9% increase in cardiovascular mortality.

The researchers also noted that their study has several important limitations. It was observational and relied on self-reported data collected at baseline, meaning it did not account for changes in alcohol consumption over time. Additionally, participants from the UK Biobank are generally healthier than the broader population, and more research evidence from high-quality randomized trials is needed to better understand the effects of low-to-moderate alcohol consumption.

However, Dr. Chen noted that clinicians should use these findings to offer personalised guidance to patients on alcohol use, taking into account dose, type, timing, and individual patient factors such as age, health risks, medications, and lifestyle. “Doctors should move beyond one-size-fits-all advice, helping patients understand that alcohol’s risks vary by amount, type, timing, and personal health context,” she said.