For years, a daily glass of red wine was believed to be "good for the heart." That reassuring idea is now under serious challenge. Newer, more rigorous research suggests the earlier picture was too optimistic — and that for heart health, less alcohol is better, and none is safest. Here is what the current evidence says, and what it means for you.
No amount of alcohol is good for your heart. The idea that red wine protects the heart has not held up in more rigorous research. Australian guidelines advise no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 on any day, and less is better. For people with high blood pressure, AF or heart failure, cutting back is one of the most effective non-drug steps.
Written by Dr Primero Ng, MBBS (Hons), FRACP, FACC, FSCAI · Interventional Cardiologist, Perth · Reviewed October 2026
One Australian standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol — smaller than many people realise, and smaller than the US standard (14 g). Overseas research figures don't translate directly to Australian drinks.
285 mL of full-strength beer — a middy or pot
100 mL of wine — a restaurant pour (150 mL+) is closer to 1.5 standard drinks
30 mL — one nip
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) advises healthy adults to drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any single day to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol.
Less is always lower risk. Not drinking at all is the lowest-risk option of all.
People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or under 18 are advised not to drink at all — the guidelines are different for these groups.
Even within the guidelines, some risk remains. The NHMRC limits reduce risk — they do not eliminate it.
Older observational studies found light-to-moderate drinkers had lower rates of heart disease than non-drinkers — producing the famous "J-shaped curve." Risk appeared to dip at low alcohol intake before rising with heavier use.
Many non-drinkers avoid alcohol because they are unwell, recovering from addiction, or on medications — they were never a fair comparison group. Light drinkers also tend to be wealthier, more physically active, and have better healthcare access. These differences, not the alcohol itself, likely explain the apparent "benefit."
Mendelian randomisation studies use genetic variants that influence drinking behaviour. Because genes are fixed at birth, they aren't skewed by lifestyle. These studies have found no meaningful heart benefit from alcohol, with cardiovascular risk rising as intake increases (Biddinger et al., JAMA Network Open, 2022).
The effects depend heavily on how much and how often you drink. Binge drinking is particularly damaging. Here is what the evidence shows across the most common heart conditions.
Regular drinking raises blood pressure in a dose-dependent way — the effect begins at low levels. The good news: it is reversible. Blood pressure can improve within about a month of cutting back.
Alcohol is a well-established trigger for AF. Each additional daily drink raises AF risk by roughly 8–16%. Binge drinking can cause "holiday heart syndrome" — AF even in otherwise healthy hearts.
Long-term heavy drinking is directly toxic to heart muscle and is a leading cause of non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Reducing or stopping alcohol can improve heart function and outlook.
Heavy drinking increases the risk of all types of stroke, partly through its effect on blood pressure. Heavy and binge drinking also raise heart failure risk, while low-to-moderate intake does not clearly do so.
Not for your heart. The best evidence is that any cardiovascular effect comes from the ethanol (alcohol) itself — wine, beer, and spirits behave much the same gram-for-gram (Freeman et al., JACC, 2018).
Red wine's reputation rests on polyphenols like resveratrol and quercetin. These compounds have antioxidant effects — but only in laboratory and animal experiments. They have never been shown to produce a meaningful heart benefit in people at the amounts found in wine. You would need to drink implausible quantities to reach the doses used in those studies — and the alcohol would harm you long before the polyphenols could help.
Some studies suggest wine drinkers have slightly better heart outcomes than beer or spirits drinkers — but wine drinkers also tend to be wealthier, eat better, exercise more, and drink with meals. These lifestyle differences likely explain most of the difference (Krittanawong et al., American Journal of Medicine, 2022).
Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Any heart-related consideration must be weighed against these broader harms.
Linked to cancers of the breast, mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, and bowel. No safe level for cancer risk. Breast cancer risk rises even at low intake in women.
Regular alcohol use contributes to fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis — with risk rising steadily alongside intake.
Alcohol contributes to weight gain, disrupts sleep quality, and substantially increases injury risk — effects that compound over time.
The old "protective" story does not hold up to modern, rigorous research methods. If you don't drink, there is no health reason to start.
≤10 standard drinks per week and ≤4 on any single day reduces — but does not eliminate — risk. Less is always better. Spreading drinks across the week is safer than concentrated sessions.
For people with high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, or cardiomyopathy, reducing or stopping alcohol is one of the most effective non-drug steps you can take. Talk to your GP.
Cutting down works — even modest reductions help. Brief, structured conversations with a GP reliably reduce alcohol intake, with the biggest benefits seen in heavier drinkers (Kaner et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018).
Your GP can check your blood pressure, review your heart risk, and discuss your drinking without judgement. If cutting down feels difficult, that is absolutely worth raising — effective support is available and works.
1800 250 015 — free, confidential advice available to all Australians, any time.
Can arrange brief alcohol intervention, blood pressure checks, heart risk review, and referrals to specialist support services if needed.
Apps like DrinkTracker or a simple phone note help you count standard drinks accurately and monitor progress toward your goal.
Remember: reducing alcohol intake is one of the most impactful changes you can make for your heart — and for your health overall. You don't have to do it alone.
General information for referring practitioners. Check current MBS and PBS criteria before acting.
Questions about your heart? Book a consultation with Dr Primero Ng (a GP or specialist referral is needed). GPs: refer a patient
© 2026 Dr Primero Ng. All rights reserved.
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Perth & Mandurah, Western Australia.
Information on this website is general in nature and does not replace individual medical advice.
Alcohol & Your Heart: What the Evidence Really Says