Although there is little doubt that the moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease, the risk of death from non-cardiac diseases or other causes depends on how much someone drinks. In general, cirrhosis and alcohol-related cancers are associated with alcohol abuse and not with the consumption of small to moderate amounts of alcohol. However, even moderate amounts of alcohol may be related to the risk of death from hemorrhagic stroke. On the other hand, the risk of thrombotic stroke, the much more common type of stroke in the U.S. and Europe, is reduced by moderate amounts of alcohol. Therefore, the net effect of moderate alcohol intake in these parts of the world is a lowering of the risk of stroke.
Questions still remain on the apparent relation between moderate alcohol intake and breast cancer.
Certain studies indicate that the risk of breast cancer in women may increase with only moderate levels of alcohol intake. However, other studies indicate no such relationship. It will require further research to clearly define what role, if any, alcohol plays in breast cancer. Excessive Alcohol Intake Alcoholics and other abusers of alcohol generally are at increased risk for a number of diseases and causes of death. Driving while intoxicated causes the most accidental alcohol-related deaths.