Even two drinks a day , a quantity considered moderate by many, can lead to premature death, disability, cancer, and heart disease, a major new study warns.

Researchers found that among people who consumed an average of 14 alcoholic drinks per week, 1 in 25 will die from alcohol-related causes.

In comparison, consuming up to seven drinks weekly was linked to only small increases in risk for most health conditions, they said.

"Even low levels of alcohol use come with health risks ... and that risk continues to increase the more someone drinks,” said Kevin Shield, senior author of the study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs .

Glasses of beer (AFP via Getty Images)

In the study, researchers assessed how alcohol consumption over a lifetime contributes to disease and premature death among Americans.

They examined more than 7,200 scientific publications covering illnesses and injuries associated with alcohol.

Researchers used the data from these studies to estimate the risks for…