# Cohort study in UK Biobank links alcohol type and intake levels to mortality risks

- Published: 2026-11-06 19:32 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Medicine
- Tags: alcohol mortality cohort study, UK Biobank alcohol consumption, wine vs beer health risk, cancer mortality alcohol intake, Nutrition Journal alcohol research
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-905a160bc9a9f52a6340b466_cohort_study_in/

**Researchers tracked 340,924 UK Biobank participants over 13.4 years, showing differing mortality associations across spirits, beer, and wine.**

![Cohort study in UK Biobank links alcohol type and intake levels to mortality risks](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/ab9d4529cfd14aa0.avif)
*Futura Sciences*

A team of researchers analyzed prospective data from 340,924 participants in the UK Biobank cohort collected between 2006 and 2022 to examine how total and beverage-specific alcohol consumption affects mortality. According to findings published in Nutrition Journal, during an average follow-up of 13.4 years, 22,381 deaths were documented, including 11,063 from cancer, 4,288 from cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 7,030 from other causes [1]. Participants were classified into categories ranging from never or occasional drinking (up to 20 g/week) to high consumption exceeding 40 g/day for men and 20 g/day for women [1].

High total alcohol intake showed strong associations with elevated mortality from all-causes (hazard ratio 1.24), CVD (HR 1.14), cancer (HR 1.36), and other causes (HR 1.12) compared to never or occasional consumption [1]. Moderate intake was associated specifically with higher cancer mortality (HR 1.11) without significant spikes in general cardiovascular deaths [1].

## Beverage type variations

The research demonstrated distinct outcomes depending on the source of alcohol consumed. Spirits and beer or cider, even at low-to-moderate doses, were correlated with increased risk across all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, cancer, and other conditions, with hazard ratios spanning between 1.07 and 1.83 [1].

In contrast, low-to-moderate consumption of wine was associated with reduced all-cause, cardiovascular, cancer, and other causes of mortality compared to baseline non-drinkers or occasional drinkers [1].

## Cancer risks across organs

Elevated consumption across all categories negated variations seen at lower doses. High intake of any alcoholic beverage, including wine, correlated with marked increases in cancer-related deaths [1].

Moderate to high consumption of total alcohol, spirits, and beer or cider, as well as high wine intake, was specifically tied to mortality across multiple cancer sites [1]. These included malignancies of the head and neck, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, liver and gallbladder, hematological systems, female breast, and reproductive organs [1].

## Sources

1. [Nutrition Journal](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-026-01361-3)
2. [Futura Sciences](https://www.futura-sciences.com/sante/actualites/alcoolisme-tous-alcools-presentent-ils-memes-risques-vaste-etude-revele-differences-surprenantes-139075)

---

Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-905a160bc9a9f52a6340b466_cohort_study_in/