Not all alcohol is the same... as study reveals which type is most dangerous and the drink that actu

[240B]

Not all alcohol is the same... as study reveals which type is most dangerous and the drink that actually lowers your risk of death

Daily Mail
By EMILY JOSHU STERNE
20 March 2026

As health authorities increasingly warn against drinking, a new study has revealed which alcoholic beverages most raise the risk of death from chronic diseases.

After consuming alcohol, the body breaks it down into the toxic byproduct acetaldehyde, which attacks DNA and tissues, leading to inflammation, immune suppression and hormonal imbalances.

It's been classified a probable carcinogen in humans, meaning it could increase the risk of several forms of cancer.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans stress to 'consume less alcohol for better overall health,' while the World Health Organization's belief is that no amount of alcohol is 'safe.'

A new study of over 340,000 British adults echoed those sentiments, finding less consumption overall was associated with improved health outcomes, especially for those with heart disease or other chronic conditions.

But the research team also found that based on participant questionnaires and reported alcohol intake, the risks of dying from cancer and heart disease were greater for those drinking even low to moderate amounts of certain drinks than others.

Spirits, beer and cider were associated with significantly greater risks of death overall compared to the same level of wine consumption.

Moderate wine drinkers - one to three glasses a day - were significantly less likely to die of heart disease compared to those who never or occasionally drink. However, the risk of death was nine percent higher for spirits, beer and cider drinkers, even those with a low intake - less than one to 1.5 drinks.

(more)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-15661969/which-type-alcohol-healthier-beer-wine.html

[Cyber Liberty]

Spoiler:  all Wines good, beer bad and distilled spirits worst.  Shit, I could have told them that for free.

[240B]

Spoiler:  all Wines good, beer bad and distilled spirits worst.  Shit, I could have told them that for free.

Like all things in life, it depends entirely on how much you drink. That is the only factor.
Moderation in all things is the key to long life.

[Wingnut]

Spoiler:  all Wines good, beer bad and distilled spirits worst.  Shit, I could have told them that for free.

And Everclear will get you f'd up.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

And Everclear will get you f'd up.

Now you did it.

You reminded me of that frat party I went to in San Marcos that had the Hawaiian Punch in the garbage can at the front door and Everclear in it.

Woke up sometime in the morning outside and remember nothing of that night except me helping myself to that garbage can.

[mountaineer]

Spoiler:  all Wines good, beer bad and distilled spirits worst.  Shit, I could have told them that for free.

I would have thought beer was okay. Isn't it just liquid bread? 

[240B]

Not all alcohol is the same. <- True

I when I was young, I used to think that vodka, for example, is vodka.
That is, I thought vodka was a standard thing that is the same from one to the next.
I could not have been more wrong. Expensive spirits are expensive for a reason.
Cheap liquor is cheap for a reason, and it will tear up your liver.

The part of drinking which is not mentioned in the article is the quality of the alcohol.
Cheap alcohol can actually be poison (methanol). I only buy top shelf brands.
Expensive alcohol is distilled many times to filter out all the bad stuff.
Cheap alcohol can make you sick and can even kill you.

[Bigun]

Not all alcohol is the same. <- True

I when I was young, I used to think that vodka, for example, is vodka.
That is, I thought vodka was a standard thing that is the same from one to the next.
I could not have been more wrong. Expensive spirits are expensive for a reason.
Cheap liquor is cheap for a reason, and it will tear up your liver.

The part of drinking which is not mentioned in the article is the quality of the alcohol.
Cheap alcohol can actually be poison (methanol). I only buy top shelf brands.
Expensive alcohol is distilled many times to filter out all the bad stuff.
Cheap alcohol can make you sick and can even kill you.

There is only one kind of alcohol that is potable (ethanol) but you are right about the quality. When ethanol is produced through fermentation the resulting liquid will contain fusel oils that are really bad actors when ingested. This is why they are removed from the mix by high quality manufacturers of ethanol to be used for human consumption.

[catfish1957]

There is only one kind of alcohol that is potable (ethanol) but you are right about the quality. When ethanol is produced through fermentation the resulting liquid will contain fusel oils that are really bad actors when ingested. This is why they are removed from the mix by high quality manufacturers of ethanol to be used for human consumption.

Back in my poor college days, my group were all Bourbon connoisseurs on a Raman Noodle Budget. 

One painful truth of passing the hat to buy a bottle?  The correlation between cost and hangover was iron clad sound.  A $3 bottle of Tom Moore did not give the same after-morning after effects of an $8 bottle of Wild Turkey.

[Bigun]

Back in my poor college days, my group were all Bourbon connoisseurs on a Raman Noodle Budget. 

One painful truth of passing the hat to buy a bottle?  The correlation between cost and hangover was iron clad sound.  A $3 bottle of Tom Moore did not give the same after-morning after effects of an $8 bottle of Wild Turkey.

When I lived in Saudia, I made a LOT of Siddique (Arabic for "my friend"). Never had, and never heard of, a hangover caused by consuming that stuff because I ALWAYS got rid of those fusel oils right off the get go and they are where the hangovers come from.

[Cyber Liberty]

When I lived in Saudia, I made a LOT of Siddique (Arabic for "my friend"). Never had, and never heard of, a hangover caused by consuming that stuff because I ALWAYS got rid of those fusel oils right off the get go and they are where the hangovers come from.

How does one get rid of the fusel oils?  Buy a better brand of booze?

[MeganC]

And Everclear will get you f'd up.

Absinthe is pretty good too. 

[Cyber Liberty]

Absinthe is pretty good too. 

I love Absinthe!  Licorice and I get along well!

[Bigun]

How does one get rid of the fusel oils?  Buy a better brand of booze?

The first things that come out of solution (vaporize) during distillation are the fusel oils. You capture them and throw them away. Absent doing that, the only way is to do that is as you suggested.

[Bigun]

Absinthe is pretty good too. 

You are welcome to ALL of mine! 

[240B]

Absinthe has a very interesting history. It was originally made including wormwood leaves, which later was thought by some to be toxic and causing hallucinations.

It was banned in various countries around the world citing that it was a dangerous drink. However, later research concluded that absinthe was no more dangerous than any other high-proof product and that the reported 'hallucinations' were caused by consumers drinking an abnormal amount of absinthe combined with other alcohol drinks and various drugs.

There is a global 'culture' or club of sorts around drinking absinthe. And there are rules and customs which are rigidly followed. This culture is popular in New Orleans.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFK36JQyabI

[Cyber Liberty]

Absinthe has a very interesting history. It was originally made including wormwood leaves, which later was thought by some to be toxic and causing hallucinations.

It was banned in various countries around the world citing that it was a dangerous drink. However, later research concluded that absinthe was no more dangerous than any other high-proof product and that the reported 'hallucinations' were caused by consumers drinking an abnormal amount of absinthe combined with other alcohol drinks and various drugs.

There is a global 'culture' or club of sorts around drinking absinthe. And there are rules and customs which are rigidly followed. This culture is popular in New Orleans.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFK36JQyabI

Very true.  I researched Absinthe a bit before trying it.  There is a bit of a ritual prior to consuming it, that gives the sensation of inhaling the flavor rather than just drinking it.  And yes, it's "high proof," over 130.

[jmyrlefuller]

Says all alcohol is not the same.

Study then proceeds to lump all alcohol as the same except wine.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Says all alcohol is not the same.

Study then proceeds to lump all alcohol as the same except wine.

So what is the quibble?

The headline is correct with the article.

[Canuck Conservative]

I would have thought beer was okay

Me too ... hops contain alkaloids that are supposed to be good for you

(btw, Hops are in the same botanical family as marijuana, j/s ...)

[jmyrlefuller]

So what is the quibble?

The headline is correct with the article.

There seems to be no breakdown by type. That could be the fault of the Daily Mail for cutting out that detail but without it, this study appears to make some bad assumptions.

[MeganC]

I love Absinthe!  Licorice and I get along well!

Absinthe helped me develop an appreciation for anise, the herb behind the flavor. You will find it in a lot of Italian and Greek bakery delights. 

[Luis Gonzalez]

Absinthe has a very interesting history. It was originally made including wormwood leaves, which later was thought by some to be toxic and causing hallucinations.

It was banned in various countries around the world citing that it was a dangerous drink. However, later research concluded that absinthe was no more dangerous than any other high-proof product and that the reported 'hallucinations' were caused by consumers drinking an abnormal amount of absinthe combined with other alcohol drinks and various drugs.

There is a global 'culture' or club of sorts around drinking absinthe. And there are rules and customs which are rigidly followed. This culture is popular in New Orleans.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFK36JQyabI

I was conducting a dinner/meeting/award ceremony thing years ago, when one of the attendees decided that it was his day to shine... loudly and obnoxiously.

No one takes my thunder.

I bought him three shots of Absinthe.

Not another sound out of him all night.

[Free Vulcan]

And Everclear will get you f'd up.

Every girl I ever knew, the shameful naked-in-the-street night of debauchery stories always involved the jungle juice made of Purple Passion and Everclear.

[roamer_1]

Spoiler:  all Wines good, beer bad and distilled spirits worst.  Shit, I could have told them that for free.

Uh oh... Well there's always mead or hard cider... Bet they didn't say nothing about that. 

[berdie]

Absinthe helped me develop an appreciation for anise, the herb behind the flavor. You will find it in a lot of Italian and Greek bakery delights. 

I've always wanted to try absinthe but it's pretty pricey.

At one time I was a huge anisette connoisseur.

[Wingnut]

Every girl I ever knew, the shameful naked-in-the-street night of debauchery stories always involved the jungle juice made of Purple Passion and Everclear.

I loved the 70's.  When men were men and women were inebriated er... i meant liberated.