It said modern techniques, such as genetic studies and trial emulation, showed no heart benefit from alcohol consumption but possible harm.
Published Jun 12, 2025 | 9:20 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 12, 2025 | 9:20 AM
Doctors say drinking even one glass of alcohol is not safe.
Synopsis: The American Heart Association warns that even moderate alcohol consumption may not be as heart-healthy as once believed. It said binge drinking is especially harmful, even if done occasionally.
Are you still sipping red wine because someone once said it’s good for your heart? The American Heart Association (AHA) now says – Think again. In a scientific statement, the AHA warned that even moderate alcohol consumption may not be as heart-healthy as once believed.
It declares that “alcohol is not a heart-healthy lifestyle choice” and warns that even light drinking carries “lingering uncertainties”.
In a review published in Circulation in June 2025, the American Heart Association laid bare the uncertainties and dangers surrounding alcohol consumption and cardiovascular health. The 45-page document busted myths, debunked old beliefs, and urged caution.
“Alcohol is not a heart-healthy lifestyle choice,” stated Dr Mariann Piano, chair of the writing group. “While earlier studies suggested some cardiovascular benefits with low-to-moderate consumption, newer evidence using advanced research methods challenges that notion,”
The message? “There’s no safe level of alcohol,” echoing the World Health Organisation’s 2023 stance.
The study said having more than three drinks daily increases the risk of heart problems like high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), stroke, heart failure, and sudden death.
Even one to two drinks a day, long considered “moderate”, now come with caveats. “We still don’t know if these levels are safe,” the statement said.
It said binge drinking, defined as four drinks for women and five for men in a single sitting, is especially harmful, even if done occasionally.
The AHA’s 2025 statement pulls no punches. “It remains unknown whether drinking is part of a healthy lifestyle,” it said.
In fact, the AHA highlighted that many studies claiming benefits from low to moderate drinking suffer from “bias and confounding” and may be misleading.
It said modern techniques, such as genetic studies and trial emulation, showed no heart benefit from alcohol consumption but possible harm.
The warning is loudest when it comes to drinking more than two drinks a day: “Heavier alcohol consumption… is consistently associated with worse outcomes in every cardiovascular disease entity studied.” That includes high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, heart failure, and even sudden death.
The statement explained, “The data pooled from cohort and case-control studies showed weak association, while data from genetic studies showed no association.”
While red wine has long been romanticised for its heart benefits, the statement urged caution. “No type of alcohol — red wine, beer, or liquor — is safer than others,” it said.
One randomised study even showed that when people with AF stopped drinking, their symptoms dropped significantly.
The statement clearly indicates that, even without daily alcohol consumption, binge drinking is harmful. It notes: “Binge drinking was associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke and cardiac arrhythmias, even among young adults.”
According to the AHA, “Clinicians should not recommend alcohol consumption to improve cardiovascular health.” It said the focus should be on proven lifestyle changes like regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and avoiding tobacco.
Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy, Lead Consultant and Senior Interventional Cardiologist at KIMS Hospital in Bengaluru, told South First: “We have always maintained that alcohol is not beneficial for heart health, primarily because a few Indian studies conducted in the past have shown a negative effect on the heart.
Our recommendation has consistently been to limit alcohol consumption to two drinks once a week. And if someone doesn’t drink, they should not start drinking in the hope of improving heart health. This position has now been substantiated,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dr MSS Mukharjee, Interventional cardiologist at Pulse Heart Super Speciality Hospital in Hyderabad, explained in detail what a mild and moderate drink means.
“One drink, for instance, contains about 14 grams of alcohol. That translates to approximately 350 ml of beer, 150 ml of wine, or 44 ml of whiskey,” he explained to South First.
“There was a belief that women could safely have one drink and men two. But that is not true. Recent trials have shown this to be a myth. Therefore, if someone is drinking, they should aim to reduce it completely. And if they don’t drink, they shouldn’t start,” Dr Mukharjee added.
Liver specialists have also issued strong warnings. “Even one drop of alcohol is not safe, and it is definitely best to stop drinking altogether,” said Dr Sonal Asthana, a liver specialist at Aster Hospitals in Bengaluru, in an earlier interview with South First.
“When it comes to liver health, there is no such thing as a safe amount of alcohol. Even a single peg is processed as a toxin by the liver. Over time, even low levels of drinking, binge drinking and weekend drinking can trigger inflammation, fat buildup, and irreversible damage. We are now seeing younger patients with liver issues and metabolic disorders linked to social drinking habits. Your liver doesn’t care if it’s wine, whiskey, or beer —it sees it all as poison to be cleared.”
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
