While it is known that excess drinking is harmful for health a new study suggests that even consuming one or two alcoholic drinks a day can raise stroke risks challenging previous claims. The study published in The Lancet journal showed that alcohol directly increases blood pressure and the chances of having a stroke. It dismissed the previous claims that 1-2 alcoholic drinks daily might protect one against stroke adding that every four additional alcoholic drinks per day increased the risk of having a stroke by about 35 per cent. Stroke is a major cause of death and disability. This study