High blood pressure because of alcohol?

How does alcohol affect blood pressure?

The relationship between blood pressure and alcohol can be confusing. On the one hand, alcohol dilates the blood vessels, as is clearly evident, for example, from the facial flushing often seen after drinking alcoholic beverages. One might therefore think that vasodilation would normally also lower blood pressure-and that would not be entirely wrong. Dilated blood vessels alone cause blood pressure to fall-that is correct. However, the vasodilation caused by alcohol is only temporary. Furthermore, when larger amounts of alcohol are metabolized, several mechanisms in the body come into play that cause the blood vessels to constrict. For example, the alcohol-induced increase in sympathetic nervous system activity leads to an increased release of hormones that raise blood pressure. These in turn cause the blood vessels to constrict (as well as increasing the heart rate) → blood pressure rises. This is exacerbated if alcohol is consumed to relieve stress or if-as is often the case-it is accompanied by smoking.

Lots of calories and damaged organs

Secondly, alcohol has an indirect adverse effect through the extra calories it supplies, because consuming many calories usually leads to being overweight. And that often goes hand in hand with high blood pressure.

Another link comes from alcohol's damaging effects on the organs. Organ damage from regular or excessive consumption of spirits can in turn lead to high blood pressure.

Finally, the direct effect on blood pressure also depends on the situation. Alcohol, like other intoxicants, can intensify the drinker's emotional state. A glass of beer or wine consumed in a relaxed setting raises blood pressure less than the same amount of alcohol consumed in a tense, aggressive mood.

Is there a safe amount of alcohol?

Experts disagree on this question because study results are not consistent. What is certain is that regular and/or heavy alcohol consumption has negative effects on the body. More recent studies generally conclude that alcohol should be avoided where possible or at least greatly reduced.

That is the overall takeaway. However, it is well known that many people find it hard to give up alcohol entirely, partly for social reasons. Therefore, the recommendations say men should have no more than 30 g of alcohol per day, which is roughly a quarter of a liter of wine or half a liter of beer. For women, the limit is slightly lower-20 g of alcohol per day. But according to studies, even these amounts already affect blood pressure. Regular, and especially excessive, drinking does cause blood pressure to rise.

Therefore, it is important to at least limit alcohol consumption, and not just for the sake of your blood pressure.

However, an American study found a link between high blood pressure and even moderate alcohol consumption of 7-13 alcoholic drinks per week. Compared with people who don't drink alcohol, this group already showed a 50% higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

In 2023, a meta-analysis of seven long-term studies on the relationship between alcohol consumption and increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was published. It shows that there is no threshold; any alcohol consumption adversely affects blood pressure. According to this analysis, there is no safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed. Alcohol's blood-pressure-raising effect starts with the first glass and increases linearly with the amount of alcoholic drinks consumed.

This is also supported by a Japanese study published in October 2025. It analyzed data from 58,943 adults who took part in 359,717 annual health checkups between 2012 and 2024. When these people stopped drinking alcohol, their blood pressure fell. The more they had previously drunk, the more their blood pressure dropped after they completely stopped drinking. Conversely, people who had previously been abstinent and then started drinking alcohol showed increases in blood pressure. The conclusion of this study, too, is that alcohol consumption should be reduced, preferably stopped altogether.

Do cultural influences play a role?

A subanalysis of a Spanish study, which was originally intended to provide evidence of wine consumption independently of the amount reported by participants, suggested a protective effect in very limited circumstances. Study participants were older people from the Mediterranean region who all had a high cardiovascular risk. The data analysis found a possible protective effect when these people drank up to 35 glasses of wine (100 ml each), i.e. up to 3.5 liters, per month. With higher consumption, the potentially protective effect disappears. It is also noted that this effect may not apply to other populations and explicitly refers only to wine consumption in this specific cohort.

Be cautious when taking medication

When taking medication, alcohol often increases the risk of side effects. It can also make a drug's effect stronger or weaker. This applies not only to swallowing pills with alcohol, but also to drinking alcohol during the period you are taking medications.

Sources:

This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 12/2025).

Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.