What is moderate drinking? It depends on whom you ask. The U.S. government defines moderte drinking as consuming no more than two standard drinks a day for men and one for women. And even that has changed. Until recently, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s definition permitted men to drink up to four standard drinks on a day and still be considered moderate drinkers.

Each standard drink in the U.S. contains the same amount of alcohol. It’s six-tenths of an ounce. Learn more about Standard Drinks and why they are so important.

Moderate drinkers tend to have better health and live longer. That’s compared to either those who don’t drink or heavy drinkers. In fact, the risk of dying in any given year is about 25% lower for those who consume moderate amounts of alcohol.

Moderate drinkers of beer, wine, or spirits are less likely to suffer these conditions:

• • • • Heart disease (and More Likely to Survive It)
      • Vascular disease
      • Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
      • Kidney Cancer
      • Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss
      • Enlarged prostate (BPH)
      • Prostate cancer
      • Stroke
      • Pancreatic cancer
      • Diabetes
      • Rheumatoid arthritis
      • Osteoporosis and bone fractures
      • Thyroid cancer
      • Kidney cancer
      • Food poisoning
      • Parkinson’s disease
      • Hodgkin’s lymphoma
      • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
      • Gallstones and gallbladder disease
      • Liver disease
      • Lower urinary tract symptoms
      • Frailty
      • Metabolic syndrome

Resources: What is Moderate Drinking?

Web Pages

Alcohol and Health

Drinking Guidelines

Are Moderate Drinking Findings True? 

Benefits of Moderate Drinking Result from Alcohol Itself: Learn More.

How Much Alcohol Should I Drink for Health & Long Life? (12 Essential Facts). 

Calories, Carbs, and Fats in Beverages.

Books

Am Heart Assn. Complete Guide to Heart Health. NY: Pocket Books, 2011.

Ascheim, R., et al. Heart Health. Your Questions Answered. London: DK, 2009.

Chambers, R. Boost Your Heart Health. NY: Perigee, 2007.

Crocker, B. Betty Crocker Cookbook. Heart Health Edition. Hoboken: Wiley, 2008.

Gillinov, M. and Nissen, S. Guide to Heart Health. NY: Crown, 2012.

Jackson, G. Heart Health. London: Class, 2009.

Note

This web site does not give advice. For that, please see a doctor.