Association between type of alcoholic beverage and all-cause mortality. A population-based prospective study

Objectives

Evidence on the differential relationship between type of alcoholic beverage consumed and mortality remains inconclusive. This study aims to evaluate the association between consumption of various alcoholic beverages and all-cause mortality in the Spanish adult population.

Study design

Population-based cohort study.

Methods

This study included 16,130 weekly alcohol drinkers aged ≥15 years who participated in the 2011 Spanish Health Survey or the 2014 European Health Survey in Spain. Data of the participants was linked to mortality data up to December 2022, with a median follow-up time of 8.4 years. A preference for wine, beer, or spirits was defined when more than 50 % of alcohol intake was obtained from such beverage. Additionally, total alcohol intake for each beverage type was categorized into four groups: 0 g/day, >0–10, >10–20, >20g/day. Hazard Ratios (HR) were estimated using Cox regression adjusted for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, health status, alcohol volume intake, and heavy episodic drinking.

Results

Compared to individuals without a beverage preference, the HR (95 % CI) for mortality among those with preference for wine, beer or spirits was 1.09 (0.88–1.35), 1.22 (0.96–1.54), and 1.16 (0.82–1.65), respectively. Among low-risk drinkers (>0–20g/day), those with a preference for beer showed a higher mortality (HR: 1.35 (1.01–1.81)). Compared to participants with zero intake of wine, beer or spirits, those in the highest consumption category (>20g/day) showed no significant differences in mortality by beverage preference.

Conclusions

Preference for wine, beer, or spirits did not show a consistently differential impact on the association between alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality.