Men who consumed light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol at 3–4 or 5–7 days per week had decreased risk of ischemic stroke compared with men who consumed alcohol less than once per week. Moderate alcohol drinking decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 25%, which is linked to a decrease in the total cardiovascular disease burden in Australia of about 4.7%. In 2008, 34% of the total number of deaths in Australia were related to cardiovascular disease and in 2003, it was 18% of the overall burden of disease. Coronary heart disease and stroke contributed to over 80% of this burden. Alcohol consumption decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease. (41)
