For years, scientists widely believed that moderate drinking — especially of red wine — offered protection against heart disease. That view was shaped by observational studies suggesting that people who drank lightly had lower rates of heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues than those who didn’t drink at all.
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“In hindsight, there was probably too much confidence that red wine was beneficial for the heart, but the pendulum has now swung too far in the other direction, where moderate alcohol use is often assumed to be harmful despite the available evidence,” says Marcus.
“Uncertainty remains about the true cardiovascular risk of drinking lightly such as one to two drinks a day,” according to the authors of the AHA scientific statement.
The available evidence suggests that drinking in moderation may either have no effect or reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and sudden death, says Marcus.
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The National Academies echoed that conclusion, based on research studies published between 2010 and 2024, which found moderate drinking is tied to a lower risk of cardiovascular death, says Dr. Calonge.
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Alcohol can make blood less likely to clot, which might reduce the risk of heart attacks and some types of stroke, but that same effect can increase the risk of dangerous bleeding, he says.
A study that looked at the drinking habits of thousands of people enrolled in the Mass General Brigham Biobank found that people who had one to 14 drinks a week were less likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who had less than one drink a week.
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Researchers believe moderate drinkers may have had lower heart risks because of brain changes — specifically reductions in stress signaling. However, because of alcohol’s overall impact on the health, the authors did not recommend drinking as a preventative strategy against heart attack and stroke.
Alcohol may also lower blood sugar, which could help explain why some studies have linked light drinking (sometimes defined as less than one drink a week for women, and less than seven a week for men) to lower diabetes risk. In excess, however, those same mechanisms contribute to liver damage, metabolic disruption, and cardiovascular harm.
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Because of these tradeoffs — and because heavy drinking is clearly harmful — the American Heart Association doesn’t recommend people start drinking if they don’t currently do so. If you do drink, stay within the recommended limits.
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Red Wine and Resveratrol
Some basic science research has suggested that certain components of red wine might be beneficial, says Marcus. In particular, antioxidants called polyphenols, including resveratrol, have been studied for their potential to raise “good” HDL cholesterol, protect blood vessels, and reduce blood clotting.
But research on resveratrol has produced mixed results, with some studies suggesting possible anti-inflammatory or cardiovascular benefits and others finding no clear protection against heart disease. Importantly, many foods such as grapes, grape juice, berries, and peanuts also contain resveratrol, raising the question of whether alcohol is necessary to get the potential benefits.
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