Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol?

A doctor’s advice on the health risks of wine, beer and cocktails

Adam Rosenbluth, M.D.,

AARP

Comments

Published December 08, 2025

illustrated gif of a someone in a robe drinking a glass of wine while someone else looks on

James Yates

I like to have a glass of wine or a cocktail in the evening, but I’ve been reading that any amount of alcohol may be bad for you. What do you think?

Answering your question is a bit tricky because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all response. For many of us, that glass of wine or evening cocktail is more than a drink. It’s part of how we relax, connect with friends or mark the end of the day. But lately the headlines make it sound as if any alcohol, even just a sip, can be risky. So, what’s the truth?

The honest answer is that alcohol is not good for you, but how bad it is, and for whom, may vary tremendously. Let’s stick with the science. For decades, doctors thought light drinking might benefit our heart. That belief came largely from studies that suggested lower rates of heart disease among wine drinkers. But newer, more rigorous analyses have shown that this advantage disappears once researchers account for lifestyle choices.

Speaking of research, in a large meta-analysis that received a lot of publicity, researchers evaluated 107 studies in an attempt to establish a connection between drinking alcohol and health benefits. The team looked at nearly 5 million participants and found that after adjusting for lifestyle factors, low levels of alcohol did not reduce the risk of heart disease compared with those who abstained.

A 2023 analysis went one step further. It found that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption for brain or heart heath, and that even modest drinking may increase the risk of hypertension and atrial fibrillation, which is a heart rhythm disorder.

That conclusion was worrisome, but if there’s one area where alcohol’s effects are most concerning, it’s the brain. We now have strong evidence that alcohol, even at moderate levels, can shrink brain volume and affect memory over time. For anyone with a family history of dementia, this risk matters. As I suggest to my patients, if you have a family history of alcoholism or dementia, it’s not a good idea to drink. But if a couple of glasses a week bring you real joy and connection, then you have to weigh those benefits against the potential risks.

Most Popular

In other words, whether or not you choose to drink is as much a personal decision as it is a medical one. While you’re making your decision, keep in mind that alcohol also affects sleep quality, blood pressure and certain cancers. The World Health Organization even lists alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, putting it in the same category as tobacco and asbestos. Studies have shown that one daily drink can slightly raise the risk of breast, colorectal and mouth cancers.

Where does this leave us? If you choose to drink, moderation really matters. That means staying at or below one standard drink per day for women and two for men, and having more alcohol-free days than drinking days. It’s also a good idea to skip alcohol entirely if you have liver disease, high blood pressure or sleep problems, or if you are taking medications that interact with alcohol.

And remember, you should drink the drink and not let the drink drink you. By that I mean, if you ever notice alcohol creeping from pleasure into habit, that’s your signal to step back.

More from Dr. Adam

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about making an informed choice. You deserve to know what the evidence actually says and then decide what feels right for your body, your brain and your joy in life. If an occasional glass of wine or beer brings you comfort and connection, enjoy it mindfully. Just make sure it’s you, not the drink, calling the shots.

%{postComment}%