New review confirms alcohol causes dozens of health harms, some reversible

14 May 2026

Peer reviewed: Yes
Method of research: Systematic review
Subject of study: People

A new review published in the journal Addiction confirms drinking causes substantial harm to health.  Some of those harms may be reversible if the person reduces or stops drinking. 

  1. Over sixty diseases and injuries are 100% attributable to alcohol consumption:  The World Health Organization’s current (11th) edition of the International Classification of Diseases lists over 60 diseases and injuries that are 100% attributable to alcohol, including alcoholic cardiomyopathy (heart disease), alcoholic liver diseases such as cirrhosis, and foetal alcohol syndrome.  Most of these are a result of heavy drinking.
  2. Several infectious diseases are partly attributable to alcohol consumption:  Recent reviews confirm that alcohol increases the risk of infectious disease, including tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases.  Alcohol damages liver function and weakens immune responses, making people more susceptible to infections. 
  3. Many non-infectious diseases are partly attributable to alcohol consumption: There are five broad categories of non-communicable diseases linked to alcohol consumption:
    • cancer (mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, colon, rectum, liver, breast, servix)
    • cardiovascular disease *high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, stroke)
    • type 2 diabetes
    • neuropsychiatric disease (dementia, epilepsy)
    • gastrointestinal disease (liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis).
  4. Many injuries are partly attributable to alcohol consumption:  Alcohol impairs balance, reaction time, and judgment even at low intake levels, increasing the risk of injuries. Injury risk depends on both how much is consumed and contextual factors such as environment, activity, and other substance use. Alcohol increases the risk of traffic injuries, falls, and violence – including harm to others.

Some of the above harms can be reversed by reducing or stopping drinking:

  1. Short‑term risks, such as injuries or sexually transmitted infections, mainly occur during intoxication and the risk decreases when drinking stops.
  2. Alcohol temporarily weakens the immune system.  Although the immune system may recover after stopping drinking, long‑term heavy drinking can cause lasting damage.
  3. Many chronic alcohol‑related diseases, such as cirrhosis and heart disease, are not fully reversible. However, reducing drinking can slow disease progression, even if some damage remains. Some cardiovascular harms improve within days to weeks of abstinence.
  4. Brain damage from heavy drinking may partially recover with long‑term abstinence, though risks such as dementia can persist.

Senior author Dr. Jürgen Rehm, Senior Scientist at the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), comments: “Even though we now know a lot about alcohol’s effects on health, it is still controversial whether a little drinking is good for your heart. When examining both cohort studies and Mendelian randomisation studies, and all their potential strengths and biases, we conclude that there is not enough evidence to rule out a beneficial effect of drinking on ischaemic heart disease and ischaemic stroke.”

Sinclair Carr, first author of the review, adds: “Our review of the current evidence on alcohol’s effects on health leads to a cautious but clear conclusion: alcohol is a major cause of disease and injury, and its harms outweigh any potential benefits.” Sinclair Carr is a PhD candidate at the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

— Ends –

For editors:

This Open Access paper will be available on the Wiley Online Library  after the embargo has lifted (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.70435) or you may request an early copy from Jean O’Reilly, Editorial Manager, Addiction, [email protected].

To speak with senior author Dr Jürgen Rehm, please contact him at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) by email: [email protected].

To speak with first author Mr. Sinclair Carr, please contact him at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health by email: [email protected].

Full citation for article: Carr S, Espinosa Dice AL, Gmel GE Sr., Hassan AS, Shield KD, and Rehm J. A review of the relationship between dimensions of alcohol consumption and the burden of disease: 2026 update including Mendelian randomisation studies.  Addiction. 2026. DOI: 10.1111/add.70435.

Primary funding:  Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIAAA), grant number 1R01AA028224.

Declaration of interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Addiction (www.addictionjournal.org) is a monthly international scientific journal publishing peer-reviewed research reports on alcohol, substances, tobacco, gambling, editorials, and other debate pieces. Owned by the Society for the Study of Addiction, it has been in continuous publication since 1884.