If you are healthy and of legal drinking age, there are many ways you can reduce your risk of problems related to alcohol . Limit the amount you drink per week to 14 standard drinks or less if you are male. If you are female, limit it to nine or less . For instance, you could wait at least one hour between drinks. It's also a good idea to have food and non-alcoholic drinks along with alcohol.
Some people drink alcohol to help protect themselves from heart disease.
If you do not normally drink alcohol, do not start just for this reason. There are less risky options. For example, you can exercise, eat better or quit smoking. If you do choose to drink though, you can get the protective effect of alcohol with as little as one drink every other day. If you go over the daily or weekly limits on a regular basis, there is a higher risk of problems.