One study found that alcohol consumption at all levels is associated with a higher risk of heart disease. The findings suggest that the perceived benefits of alcohol consumption may actually be attributed to other lifestyle factors that are common among light to moderate drinkers. The study included 371,463 adults – with an average age of 57 years and an average alcohol consumption of 9.2 drinks per week – who were participants in the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database and research resource that included in-depth genetic and health research. Information. Consistent with earlier studies, the investigators found that light to moderate drinkers had the lowest risk of heart disease, followed by those who abstained. People who drink heavily were at greatest risk.