Alcohol consumption is one of the most widely known preventable risk factors associated with an increase in population morbidity and mortality. In Mediterranean countries, alcohol has been consumed since time immemorial, and is usually obtained from fruit fermentation, more rarely from distillation. In Spain, alcohol consumption generally follows the so-called "Mediterranean drinking pattern", i.e. drinking is associated with social occasions, in the company of friends, family or acquaintances and currently occurs mostly at facilities in the catering industry and less at home. It is assumed to take the form of moderate, responsible consumption, not occurring mostly at the weekend or associated with binge drinking over shorter periods of time. Conversely, evidence shows the existence of positive effects of moderate alcohol consumption on health.