What are the effects of reduced alcohol consumption on blood pressure?
Studies have shown that reducing alcohol consumption may have a positive effect on blood pressure. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Roerecke et al. (2017) concluded that a reduction in alcohol consumption was associated with a small but significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Similarly, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Xin et al. (2001) indicated that alcohol reduction was associated with a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions for Alcoholism (COMBINE) study (Stewart et al., 2008) found that reduced alcohol consumption was associated with a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure after 12 weeks of treatment. 