Is Any Alcohol Safer?
Is There a Safe Option When it Comes to Alcohol
Dec 24, 2025
Bottom Line: Alcohol is harmful regardless of type. Red wine isn't "healthier", and clear liquor isn't safer than dark liquor. Ethanol itself is the problem.
Why Alcohol Harms the Body
Your body converts ethanol into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that can damage DNA and raise cancer risk.
Alcohol increases the risk of at least seven cancers, plus heart disease, liver disease, depression, anxiety, and memory issues.
Risk rises with total ethanol consumed, not the beverage category.
What Actually Matters
A.B.V (alcohol by volume) is the key metric.
Lower A.B.V = less ethanol exposure.
Beer generally has less ethanol per ounce than wine; wine less than liquor — but there's huge variation.
How to Drink More Safely
Choose lower A.B.V. options and watch serving sizes.
12 oz beer (5% A.B.V) = about 5 oz of wine (12%) = about 1.5 oz liquor (40%).
Cocktails are unpredictable because mixers dilute but don't reduce ethanol.
Avoid alcohol + caffeine (e.g., espresso martinis, vodka Red Bull): they mask intoxication and lead to overdrinking.
High-calorie alcohol and sugary mixers increase risks for weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease.
Hangover Differences
Darker liquors (bourbon, rum, brandy) contain more congeners, which can worsen hangovers.
But this doesn't make them more harmful to long-term health.
Some clear spirits (e.g., certain tequilas) can still be high in congeners.