Wine significantly increases the risk of death much less than other alcoholic beverages such as beer or spirits – and can even show positive effects with the same amount of alcohol. This is the result of a study published on the website of the American College of Cardiology by the UK Biobank. For this, data from over 340,000 Britons who participated in one of the long-term studies between 2006 and 2022 were analyzed. Moderate wine drinkers had a 21 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases compared to individuals who did not drink or only drank occasionally.

Not only the amount but also the type of beverage had a decisive influence on health outcomes: For people with low and moderate alcohol consumption, drinking spirits, beer, or cider is associated with a significantly higher risk of death than consuming the same amount of alcohol in wine. According to the study authors, certain compounds found in red wine, such as polyphenols and antioxidants, are likely responsible for the lower health risks, which can provide benefits for the cardiovascular system. Additionally, wine is more often enjoyed in connection with meals and by people with healthier dietary and lifestyle habits in social settings.

Low alcohol consumption is defined for men as 20 grams per week up to 20 grams per day, which corresponds to a quarter liter of wine. For women, the limit is 20 grams per week up to 10 grams per day. Moderate alcohol consumption is defined for men as 20 to 40 grams and for women as 10 to 20 grams per day.

(al; Image: Gemini AI)

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