Does Alcohol Raise Blood Pressure?

Alcohol is deeply woven into our culture, easily accessible, and often a central part of social gatherings and celebrations. But its effects go much further than the temporary buzz you feel when drinking it, having lasting effects on cardiovascular health.

For people who drink regularly and/or heavily, alcohol can raise blood pressure and interfere with how the heart and blood vessels function.

Let’s explore what happens to your blood pressure when you drink alcohol and considerations if you’re already managing hypertension.

Alcohol and Blood Pressure: The Science

When you drink, alcohol causes your blood vessels to constrict, which makes it harder for blood to flow and temporarily raises blood pressure. Over time, frequent alcohol use leads to chronic inflammation and stiffening of the blood vessel walls, reducing their ability to relax, open up, and maintain healthy circulation.

Alcohol also impacts your autonomic nervous system, which controls your heart rate and blood pressure. Heart rate may increase when drinking as your body works on metabolizing the alcohol, further straining your cardiovascular system. Alcohol abuse can lead to autonomic dysfunction, which predominantly includes erectile dysfunction.

Furthermore, regular alcohol intake raises levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, both of which can constrict blood vessels and cause blood pressure to rise.

Note: When it comes to the effects of different types of alcohol and blood pressure (beer vs. wine vs. hard liquor), some studies show mixed results — but the bottom line is that the amount consumed appears to matter more.

Lifestyle Matters, Too

While significant, alcohol is just one component of how lifestyle influences your blood pressure. Your everyday habits, like eating a lot of high-sodium, ultra-processed foods, smoking, physical inactivity, and carrying extra weight, can all contribute to cardiovascular strain that raises blood pressure.

The good news is that healthier habits, combined with limited alcohol intake, have the opposite effect and can significantly improve vascular health and blood pressure management.

How Much Alcohol Has an Effect?

It’s generally assumed that an occasional drink is unlikely to have a significant or lasting effect on your blood pressure or heart health. However, a recent study challenges the idea that low alcohol intake has no meaningful impact, suggesting that no amount of alcohol is risk-free.

A large longitudinal study published in JACC found that even light-to-moderate alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure, while reducing or stopping drinking leads to meaningful improvements.

Researchers analyzed over 350,000 annual health check-ups from nearly 59,000 Japanese adults between 2012 and 2024 and found that those who quit drinking experienced measurable reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, regardless of gender or the type of alcohol consumed.

The findings reinforce that alcohol (whether beer, wine, or spirits) is a well-established contributor to elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Notably, the blood pressure-lowering benefits of quitting were seen even among light drinkers, leading researchers to conclude that “the less you drink, the better.”

Blood Pressure Medications and Alcohol

There’s a reason that blood pressure medications often come with a warning about not using them with alcohol. Sometimes, this combination can create dangerous effects

Common antihypertensives all interact with alcohol differently, but the result is often the same: a greater risk of side effects and less predictable blood pressure control.

Alcohol acts as a vasodilator at first, causing blood vessels to relax and widen and blood pressure to decrease. While this sounds like a benefit, the effect is temporary, and the inflammation and oxidative stress caused by alcohol do more harm to long-term cardiovascular health.

Furthermore, when alcohol is used with medications that have similar effects, it can lower blood pressure too much, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.

If alcohol is used with beta blockers, it can worsen fatigue or slow the heart rate too much. When it’s used with ACE inhibitors or diuretics, it can encourage dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, further disrupting normal blood pressure regulation.

Regular drinking can also make antihypertensives less effective over time due to its effects on fluid balance and liver metabolism.

Alcohol Guidelines for People Concerned About Blood Pressure

According to the CDC, moderate drinking is defined as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. A “standard” drink equals about 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. However, it’s important to note that alcohol provides zero health benefits, so if you don’t currently drink it, there’s no reason to start now.

Even within these limits, alcohol can temporarily raise blood pressure and increase heart rate. Over time, heavy or frequent drinking weakens the heart muscle and impairs the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure efficiently.

For individuals with Afib, alcohol can trigger or worsen irregular heart rhythms. In fact, the term “holiday heart syndrome” was coined to describe Afib episodes that occur after periods of excessive (or binge) drinking, often around weekends or holidays.

Because both high blood pressure and Afib strain the cardiovascular system, alcohol can act as a double stressor, elevating blood pressure while disrupting the normal electrical signals in the heart. People with either condition should limit or avoid alcohol altogether, especially if they notice palpitations or irregular rhythms after drinking.

For those who choose to drink, practical strategies to keep things in check include:

Pacing drinks slowly
Alternating alcohol with water
Avoiding situations that encourage binge drinking

Monitoring blood pressure regularly and tracking how your body responds to alcohol can help you make informed decisions.

If you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension or Afib, discuss safe alcohol use with your healthcare provider. Even moderate intake may need to be adjusted based on your condition and medication plan.

FAQs About Alcohol and Blood Pressure

1. Does heavy drinking cause long-term high blood pressure?

Chronic heavy drinking (especially those drinking over 40 grams per day, or the equivalent of 3 standard drinks) can lead to sustained hypertension over time. This happens because alcohol increases stress hormone levels, damages blood vessel walls, and promotes weight gain, which raises blood pressure.

2. What’s the link between blood pressure medications and alcohol?

Alcohol can interfere with how medications like beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors work, potentially lowering blood pressure too much or causing dizziness and fainting. It’s best to discuss personalized guidance with your healthcare team.

3. What’s considered a safe amount of alcohol if I have high blood pressure?

Health experts generally recommend no more than one drink per day for women and two for men (but not every day), if you drink at all. However, if your blood pressure is uncontrolled or you’re on certain medications, avoiding alcohol entirely may be safest.

4. Will quitting alcohol lower my blood pressure?

Yes. Research shows that cutting back or eliminating alcohol can lead to noticeable reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure within weeks, especially for people who previously drank heavily. Importantly, to reap the most benefits, a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle are also key.