It was in the early 1990s that researchers and scientists reported that moderate drinking -- for women, one drink a day, for men, two drinks a day -- was associated with a longer life. The reason for the greater longevity was unknown. Researchers proposed that red wine might have anti-inflammatory properties that protected cardiovascular health. Although major health organizations and some doctors always warned that alcohol consumption had a link to higher cancer risk, moderate drinkers heard the recommendation as encouragement.

In 2023, however, JAMA Network published a report in which scientists reviewed 107 studies conducted across 40 years. They concluded that consuming even a small amount of alcohol can increase risk to heart health.