Is a Little Alcohol Good for Your Heart? Not So Fast...

The American Heart Association just released a new scientific statement on alcohol and heart health — and it might not say what you think.

For years, we’ve heard conflicting stories:
➡️ “A glass of red wine is good for you.”
➡️ “Drinking in moderation is fine.”
➡️ “No amount is safe.”

So, what’s the real story?

Here’s what the update says:

• Heavy drinking is clearly harmful. It raises the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and more.

• Light to moderate drinking (1–2 drinks/day)? It might not be as protective as we once thought.

• Much of the old research has limitations. A lot of what we’ve heard about alcohol’s heart benefits comes from studies that didn’t fully control for other factors — and newer research is calling those ideas into question.

• Drinking less is better. That’s the clearest takeaway — especially if you already have heart concerns.

The takeaway

If you don’t drink, there’s no reason to start. If you do, drinking less is probably better for your heart — and your overall health.

This figure from the American Heart Association’s 2025 statement illustrates the known links between alcohol and cardiovascular disease. It shows that for many outcomes — like stroke, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure — even moderate drinking may raise risk. Evidence comes mostly from observational studies, and definitive clinical trials are still lacking.

Piano MR, Marcus GM, Aycock DM, et al. Alcohol use and cardiovascular disease: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2025;151:e00–e00. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001341