A major new study suggests that even modest amounts of alcohol may carry serious health consequences. Researchers found that drinking levels many Americans consider moderate are associated with higher risks of premature death, disability, cancer, heart disease, and other long-term health problems.

Published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs , the research challenges the longstanding belief that moderate drinking is harmless or may even provide health benefits. The findings suggest that alcohol's risks begin at relatively low levels of consumption and increase as people drink more.

"This study provides the most comprehensive U.S. estimates to date of lifetime risks of alcohol-attributable mortality and morbidity, showing that even moderate levels of consumption increase the risk of premature death and disability," said study co-author Katherine M.…