Drinking Beer Is Linked to ‘Significantly’ Higher Risk of Death, Study Suggests

When it comes to alcohol, what is in your glass might matter as much as how many glasses you have.According to a massive new study of more than 340,000 British adults presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific session, the health impact of low-to-moderate drinking varies significantly depending on the type of beverage consumed. While high alcohol intake remains universally linked to worse health outcomes, researchers discovered that moderate wine consumption is associated with a lower risk of death, whereas drinking beer, cider, or spirits at the exact same levels “was associated with a significantly higher risk of death,” the researchers wrote.“These results come from the general population, and in certain high-risk groups, such as people with chronic diseases or cardiovascular conditions, the risks could be even higher,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Zhangling Che. He is a professor at the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University in China.The findings draw on data from 340,924 participants in the U.K. Biobank study conducted between 2006 and 2022. Researchers categorized individuals based on their weekly and daily grams of pure alcohol intake, tracking their health outcomes for an average of more than 13 years.The baseline findings confirmed the dangers of heavy drinking. Compared to those who drink occasionally or never, heavy drinkers faced a 24 percent higher likelihood of dying from any cause, a 36 percent higher likelihood of dying from cancer, and a 14 percent higher likelihood of dying from heart disease.However, the differences became glaring when looking at low and moderate drinkers. Researchers found that moderate wine drinkers had a 21 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with occasional drinkers. In stark contrast, even a low intake of spirits, beer, or cider was linked to a 9 percent higher risk of cardiovascular-related death.“Our findings help clarify previously mixed evidence on low to moderate alcohol consumption,” Dr. Chen said. “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.”Researchers point to a few reasons for this divide. Red wine contains beneficial compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols, which are known to support heart health. Furthermore, behavioral factors play a massive role. Wine is frequently consumed alongside meals and is generally favored by individuals who maintain healthier overall diets and lifestyles. Conversely, beer, cider, and spirits are more frequently consumed outside of meal times and are often associated with poorer dietary choices.“Taken together, these factors suggest that the type of alcohol, how it is consumed and the associated lifestyle behaviors all contribute to the observed differences in mortality risk,” Dr. Chen said.

Drinking Beer Is Linked to ‘Significantly’ Higher Risk of Death, Study Suggests

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