Consuming just two alcoholic drinks daily could raise the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms among men, Reuters reported April 2.

Researchers who studied 39,000 men found that moderate alcohol use increased risk of the potentially deadly arterial ruptures by 21 percent. Liquor appeared to raise risk more than beer or wine, according to researcher Daniel R. Wong of the Harvard School of Public Health and colleagues.

"These results must be viewed in the context of the benefits of moderate alcohol intake on cardiovascular risk, and further corroborating evidence is needed," said Wong. "Nevertheless, these findings do raise a red flag and caution against higher levels of alcohol intake in men who may have or be at risk for aortic aneurysms." 

The study was published in the April 2007 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.