Dry January: Clear the Myths
Dry January is widely recognised as a moment to reflect on alcohol consumption and its impact on health. For the European Heart Network, Dry January offers an important opportunity to address persistent myths surrounding alcohol and cardiovascular disease.
Despite long-standing beliefs, scientific evidence shows that alcohol has no protective effect on cardiovascular health. On the contrary, alcohol consumption increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and contributes significantly to Europe’s overall CVD burden. Each year, around 50,000 people in the EU die from cardiovascular disease linked to alcohol consumption.
EHN’s Dry January editorial, authored by Hans Snijder, debunks long-standing myths about alcohol and heart health, exposing how cultural narratives and commercial interests continue to downplay the real cardiovascular harm caused by alcohol consumption.
“The message remains constant and is passed on to the next generation: alcohol consumption is framed as essential to social life, celebration, and enjoyment. Myths like the one surrounding red wine sustain a comforting narrative of harmlessness, reassuring us that alcohol is not so harmful after all. These myths are actively fuelled by a powerful, calculated, and relentless alcohol industry, driven by high profit margins, not by concern for people’s health.” – Hans Snijder, CEO of the Dutch Heart Foundation and EHN Board Member
“The message remains constant and is passed on to the next generation: alcohol consumption is framed as essential to social life, celebration, and enjoyment.
Myths like the one surrounding red wine sustain a comforting narrative of harmlessness, reassuring us that alcohol is not so harmful after all.
These myths are actively fuelled by a powerful, calculated, and relentless alcohol industry, driven by high profit margins, not by concern for people’s health.”
Alcohol consumption, from wine, beer, and spirits, remains a major but often underestimated driver of cardiovascular harm. Any level of alcohol consumption carries cardiovascular risk; there is no risk-free threshold.
The European Union should therefore move beyond harm reduction towards a clear alcohol prevention approach, combining public awareness, regulation, and fiscal action. The economic and social costs of alcohol-related disease in Europe are substantial, yet policy responses remain uneven and largely voluntary.
These policy recommendations are grounded in the latest scientific evidence on alcohol and cardiovascular disease.
In June 2025, the European Heart Network published its position paper on the impact of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease.
This comprehensive paper challenges long-held beliefs and provides a critical overview of the latest evidence on alcohol and cardiovascular health. Despite widespread public perception, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption protects against cardiovascular disease (CVD). On the contrary, research shows that even low levels of alcohol increase the risk of major CVD conditions, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and stroke. The risks rise with higher levels of consumption.
To mark Dry January with meaningful action, the European Heart Network invites everyone to join a shared call for change. By signing the Alcohol & CVD Pledge, you support evidence-based EU action to reduce alcohol consumption as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Signing the pledge affirms a collective commitment to prevention and to policies that protect cardiovascular health across Europe.