heavy alcohol use is a bad thing drinking a glass of wine a day is slightly protective right so it's not a recommendation to start drinking if you don't drink but drinking a glass of wine it's not a risk factor for stroke actually it may reduce stroke risks just to touch compared to people who don't drink at all but drinking too much is a big risk factor physical inactivity lack of exercise is a risk factor and then the whole host of the usual medical conditions for stroke high blood pressure is the most important it's the