Every person deserves accurate information about what protects their heart, and independent science shows that already low levels of alcohol use raise the risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and stroke.
For decades, Big Alcohol has funded research to shape what we know about alcohol and the heart, and it lobbies against the policies that protect our hearts. This World Heart Day, Movendi International brings together the evidence showing how alcohol taxes and other effective alcohol policy solutions can prevent heart disease, fund better care and make heart health possible for every community.

Every person deserves accurate information about what protects their heart.

But the alcohol industry stands in the way.

For decades, Big Alcohol has funded research to shape what we know about alcohol and the heart. Every scientific review by authors linked to alcohol industry funding produced results that served industry interests, instead of public health.

And Big Alcohol lobbies against the policies that protect and promote cardiovascular health.

S2 E1: How the Alcohol Industry Misrepresents the Truth About Alcohol and Cardiovascular Health
Study: Alcohol Industry Funding Distorts Findings About Alcohol and Heart Disease

Alcohol and cardiovascular disease risk

Independent science is clear:

  1. Any amount of alcohol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  2. Already low levels of alcohol use raise the risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and stroke.
  3. In the EU, alcohol causes at least 50,000 cardiovascular deaths every year.
No Amount of Alcohol is Good for the Heart, Says World Heart Federation
Already Low-Dose Alcohol Use Accelerates Health Risks, New Study Reveals
Even Small Amounts of Alcohol Can Be Harmful to Blood Pressure and the Heart

Alcohol policy solutions for cardiovascular health

Proven alcohol policy solutions exist to prevent and reduce the cardiovascular disease and death burden alcohol is causing. Independent science is getting ever stronger, for example showing that raising alcohol taxes prevents heart disease and funds better care.

For instance in the UK alone, alcohol pricing alone could prevent around 2,631 cases of heart disease every year. Heart experts worldwide are already making the case. This World Heart Day: alcohol policy is heart policy.

Raising Alcohol Taxes Has Potential to Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases, Deaths
European Heart Network Launches New Position Paper on Alcohol and Heart Disease

Explore the evidence

Alcohol and cardiovascular disease

Heart experts speak out

Cardiovascular harm already from low-dose alcohol use

How Big Alcohol spoils the science

Alcohol policy for heart health

Cardiologists Warn Against Alcohol for Better Heart Health