Alcohol has long carried mixed perceptions — often linked to health risks, yet casually justified in everyday conversations. A recent viral reel has once again put the spotlight on this controversy.  

In a viral video, posted by entrepreneur Abhishek Vvyas, who has 1.2 lakh followers on Instagram, Bollywood actor Govinda’s wife, Sunita Ahuja, opens up about her approach to balance in life. “I enjoy a drink sometimes, and even doctors say drinking two pegs of alcohol is good for the heart.” She explains how she refuses to hide her choices, even when trolls target her online, insisting that moderation is key. 

The reel has resonated widely — it has drawn 21,600 likes and about 8,700 shares on Instagram.

Is drinking two pegs of alcohol good for the heart?

Alcohol itself is not risk-free. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has maintained for years now that no amount of alcohol can be considered safe for our health. 

In fact, a large-scale study published in PLOS Medicine, based on data from 30 long-term studies across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, found that alcoholic drinks, especially beer and spirits, may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Cutting back, researchers noted, could help prevent this deadly disease.  

Research also shows alcohol has complex effects on blood sugar. A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that while alcohol can spike glucose levels, it can also suppress the liver’s ability to produce glucose, leading to sudden drops — a dangerous combination, particularly for people with diabetes. 

Beyond these specific effects, alcohol is one of the world’s leading risk factors for chronic illness. The WHO estimates that it accounts for nearly 1 in 10 deaths among people aged 15 to 49, linking it to cancer, liver disease, cardiovascular conditions, and mental health disorders. 

According to a research, coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease, responsible for about 60% of cardiovascular deaths and 25% of all deaths. Historically, alcohol was believed to ease angina – a common CAD symptom marked by chest pain because it dilates blood vessels. But later evidence, including electrocardiographic studies, showed that alcohol does not improve blood flow or oxygen supply to the heart. Instead, its sedative effect may only mask symptoms, which could be dangerous.  

The research further notes that, since the 1970s, multiple studies have examined alcohol’s relationship with CAD. A prospective study on CVD mortality (Klatsky et al. 1990a) found that former drinkers had a higher risk of CAD and overall CVD mortality than lifelong abstainers, though the difference disappeared after adjusting for other health traits. Among current drinkers, lighter drinkers showed the lowest risk, with results forming a U-shaped curve — lowest mortality risk at one to two drinks per day, and CAD mortality lowest at three to five drinks per day.

It also highlights findings from large-scale studies. The American Cancer Society Study, which tracked 490,000 men and women for nine years, reported a 30–40% lower risk of CVD mortality among those who drank one to two drinks daily (Thun et al. 1997). Similarly, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (Rimm et al. 1991), involving over 51,000 men, found an inverse link between alcohol intake and newly diagnosed CAD. The Auckland Heart Study (Jackson et al. 1991) also confirmed that moderate drinkers had lower CAD risk compared to lifelong abstainers and former drinkers. 

Dr Swarup Swaraj Pal, Chief CVTS Surgeon at Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai, dismissed the claim outright. “Technically, doctors don’t recommend alcohol in any form whatsoever. So the claim (of two pegs of alcohol) is false — there is no scientific basis for it,” he said. Drawing from his own practice, he explained that many of his bypass patients, who were regular drinkers before surgery, often ask if they can continue with one or two pegs afterward. “We tell them no. Alcohol affects not just the heart, but the entire body,” he added. 

On the heart specifically, Dr Pal highlighted three major risks: “Alcohol can disrupt the rhythm of the heart, leading to arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats that may suddenly escalate and even prove fatal. It also weakens the heart muscle over time, a condition known as cardiomyopathy, which can progress to chronic heart failure and, in severe cases, require a heart transplant or artificial heart. In addition, alcohol raises both blood pressure and heart rate, increasing the risk of heart attacks.”  

He emphasised that the damage is not limited to the heart. Alcohol consumption, he said, also causes irritability, memory loss, dementia, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney problems, and pancreatitis- a dangerous inflammation of the pancreas that disrupts insulin production and can trigger diabetes complications. “From the brain to the kidneys, alcohol harms every organ system,” he noted, adding that it also heightens the risk of multiple cancers. 

Addressing the idea of moderation, Dr Pal stressed that “even minimal consumption is not safe.” He explained that people rarely stop at two pegs, especially in social settings, where drinking often escalates to excess. He also traced the origin of the “two-peg” myth to Western countries, where alcohol was once used in freezing climates to prevent blood vessels from constricting. “Yes, one or two pegs of brandy may have helped in extreme cold, but beyond that, alcohol itself becomes a vasoconstrictor. So the so-called benefit flips into harm,” he said. 

Dr Pal emphasised that alcohol in any form should not be promoted as good for health. He advised that individuals who struggle to quit should seek help from a cardiologist or even a psychologist for support. 

Also read: Can your anger lead to a heart attack?