New research finds even occasional heavy drinking — just once a month — may raise the risk of serious liver scarring, even in otherwise moderate drinkers.
An occasional night of heavy drinking may be more dangerous to your health than you think.
A new study finds over-indulging just once a month could harm your liver…even if you’re typically a light or moderate drinker.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 8,000 U.S. adults collected between 2017 and 2023.
They compared drinking patterns… not just total alcohol intake… and the results showed people who consume large amounts of alcohol in a single day at least once a month are three times more likely to develop advanced liver fibrosis, a serious form of liver scarring.
The risk is especially high for people with MASLD, a metabolic condition affecting one in three U.S. adults.
MASLD is characterized by excess fat buildup in the liver, often associated with obesity, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
The lead investigator calls the study “a huge wake-up call,” and says, “The public needs to be much more aware of the danger of occasional heavy drinking and should avoid it even if they drink moderately the rest of the time.”
More than one-half of the adults included in the study reported episodic heavy drinking.
Episodic heavy drinking is defined as four or more drinks in one day for women and five or more drinks in one day for men, at least once a month.
Source: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Author Affiliations: Keck Medicine of USC
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