Just two drinks a day may be far riskier than you think

Even alcohol consumption that many Americans would describe as moderate may carry significant health risks, including a greater likelihood of premature death, disability, cancer, and heart disease. That is the conclusion of a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs , a journal published at Rutgers University.

The research, known as the Alcohol Intake and Health Study, was originally commissioned by the U.S. federal government to help shape updated national dietary recommendations. Researchers estimated that people who consume an average of 14 alcoholic drinks per week face a 1 in 25 lifetime risk of dying from alcohol-related causes. By comparison, consuming up to seven drinks weekly was linked to only small increases in risk for most health conditions.