With the holiday season officially underway, many people are reaching for a glass of champagne to celebrate the new year, a cup of mulled wine at Christmas markets, or a pint of beer with friends. While festive drinking is a longstanding tradition, questions persist over how much alcohol is safe to consume and whether occasional drinks carry health risks.
Experts agree that alcohol is harmful for your body, but they disagree on where to set the limit. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, the highest risk category, alongside asbestos, tobacco, and radiation. The agency states that no level of alcohol consumption is safe. The European Union, which has some of the highest alcohol consumption rates in the world, has seen cancer overtake heart disease as the leading cause of death, according to WHO data.
In 2023, average annual alcohol consumption per capita across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries reached 8.5 litres of pure alcohol. Latvia, Portugal, and Romania recorded over 11.5 litres per person, while nearly a third of OECD countries reported consumption of 10 litres or more.
“The WHO European Region cannot afford the illusion that consuming alcohol is harmless,” said Gundo Weiler, director for Prevention and Health Promotion at the WHO.
Not all experts fully agree with the WHO’s stance. A recent study by the American Heart Association (AHA) suggested that light drinking carries little risk for coronary disease, stroke, or heart failure. The study even noted that small amounts of alcohol may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Yet the AHA cautioned, “if you don’t drink alcohol, don’t start. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit your intake.” The association adds that moderate drinking does not provide clear benefits for the general population and can raise blood pressure in some individuals.
Guidelines for “low-risk” drinking vary across countries. Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) recommends no more than 11 standard drinks per week for women and 17 for men, with at least two to three alcohol-free days weekly and no more than six drinks on a single occasion. Estonia and Poland set limits at 40g of alcohol per day for men and 20g for women, while Spain recommends a maximum of 10g per day for women and 20g for men. Latvia and Lithuania advise avoiding alcohol altogether. A standard drink typically contains 10g of pure alcohol, equivalent to 100ml of wine or half a glass of beer or cider.
With holiday celebrations in full swing, public health authorities urge consumers to consider the risks. Even light drinking may have consequences, and experts continue to debate how much alcohol, if any, can truly be considered safe.
