Dr Paddy Barrett

Dr Paddy Barrett

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Dr Paddy Barrett
Dr Paddy Barrett
The Truth About Alcohol and Health

The Truth About Alcohol and Health

Why the idea that “a little red wine is good for your heart” doesn’t hold up anymore.

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Dr Paddy Barrett
Jun 21, 2025
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Dr Paddy Barrett
Dr Paddy Barrett
The Truth About Alcohol and Health
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I used to drink.

A lot more than I should have.

And while I had some seriously good times when I was drinking, it came at a huge cost.

Brutal hangovers. Terrible sleep. Wrecked weekends.

Even a broken back.

(But that’s a story for another day.)

I still drink.

But just very little these days.

As a cardiologist, I am asked almost every day if ‘Alcohol is good or bad for your health?’.

Let’s find out.

Alcohol Is A Toxin.

There is no getting away from the fact that, at its most basic chemical foundation, alcohol is a toxin.

Globally, alcohol is responsible for 3 million deaths per year; in the United States, it is the third leading cause of preventable death12.

Alcohol is a factor in3:

  • 30% of suicides

  • 40% of fatal burn injuries

  • 50% of fatal drownings

  • 50% of homicides

  • 65% of fatal falls

  • 29% of fatal road traffic accidents

Alcohol is a factor in 1 in 5 emergency department presentations4.

No pun intended, but these statistics make for some sober reading.

‘Red Wine Is Good For Your Heart.’

Now come on.

Did you really think that was true?

I have heard this phrase over and over again in my clinical practice.

High levels of exercise are good for your heart, but oddly enough, most people seem to be far less enthusiastic about this approach than regular alcohol consumption.

Let’s see what the data says.

Up until very recently, it was believed that drinking 1-2 drinks per day was actually protective when it came to dying prematurely5.

This data was based on observational studies that cannot fully control for all confounders and can therefore not infer causality.

When you examine the people who drink only 1 to 2 drinks per day, you consistently find that they are much less likely to smoke, be overweight or engage in any other risky health behaviours.

So in truth, it probably wasn’t the alcohol that was driving the effect.

More recent studies have attempted to control for this variable more carefully, and the relationship is clear.

The more you drink.

The higher the risk.

Take coronary artery disease. Higher alcohol intake equates to a higher risk.

The same applies to high blood pressure6.

The same applies to stroke7.

The list goes on8:

  • Atrial fibrillation - Higher risk.

  • Sudden death - Higher risk.

  • Heart failure - Higher risk.

  • Liver, Breast, Colorectal, Oropharyngeal Cancer - Higher Risk9.

You get the point.

With all this information to hand, why is it then that I and billions of others continue to drink alcohol?

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